Waiting For Joy.

I was visiting friends for a dinner celebration not long ago. A daughter had come home for a visit with her husband and their two little children.

By the end of the meal, the youngest child (about 2 yrs. old) began to fuss and cry that she wanted to go home. For all the gentle attempts on the part of mom and dad, nothing would calm her.

Finally the wise young mother announced that her daughter was tired and overwrought from all the excitement and off they went to cuddle up in the bedroom, just the two of them. The child returned about an hour later, smiling and ready to enjoy the family.

I started thinking this young girl was a lot like us this time of year. Don’t you feel sometimes like you’ve come to the end of your rope? You’re trying so hard to make this a memorable time for friends and family; gift buying, cooking, visits to relatives, planning special events. (And oh . . . don’t you dare forget anyone.)

We can get sad and empty. Everything is pouring out of you till there’s nothing left to give. Tears. “What’s wrong?” we wonder.

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What’s wrong? Nothing. You’re OK. It’s just that, like the child, you’ve gotten overwrought. Too many plans, too many connections, too many hopes for everyone’s happiness. It’s overwhelming. You can’t do it all.

So how can we avoid a pre-Christmas melt down? A couple things come to mind . . . see what you think.

First. Sadness comes to all of us. (Especially if God has given you a tender heart.) You see things that make you sad; poverty, disappointment, suffering, innocence dashed. We feel these things more at this time of year than any other.

Embrace it. It’s part of life here on earth. It’s why God sent His Son to be born among us – – to set things right. To reveal God’s radically different kind of love, one that embraces the darkness of the world in order to “make all things new”. Rev. 21:5.

But . . . it’s not set right quite yet. God’s plan has not fully unfolded. Christ is letting you share a little bit of His longing till it is fulfilled. Don’t run away from these feelings. They can bring you closer to Jesus.

Second. “Get small”. What did our mothers tell us? “It’s the little things that count.” Big things like parties, or presents, or visits, take planning and organizing. The little things are right in front of you (in the moment). Try a nice smile to the check-out person, let someone go in front of you, look for the sadness (see above) in others and offer kind words. Hey . . . do to others what you’d like to be given you. You’ll figure it out . . . just be human.

Third. Like the child and her mother, cuddle up with God. Go to your room (Mt. 6:6). Spend some time in prayer. Every day. Like a mother, the Lord will calm you and remind you that you are His child and together (not by yourself!) you can bring a love to your family and this world that is real and simple and powerful in its own way.

So here we go now. Embrace your sadness. Get small. Pray every day. And wait . . . Joy is coming!

Much love,
Fr. Tim