Hope

Driving along listening to Christmas music I began to dwell on Jesus as a baby. Blows my mind that he came that way. In the night, breaking the silence with the cries of a newborn. And here he was, with his mom, to save the world.
Something else entered. Hope.
Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." We hope for what we can't see, but Christ in the flesh filled the world with hope. He grew into a man, walked with the sinners, and continued to give hope to those who were shunned by society. He died the death we couldn't, saving us though we put him there, and was raised again. He didn't leave us alone, he gave his spirit to walk with us. And so, we hope again. This time, our hope is that he is coming to rescue us forever.
Christmas is a reminder about the hope we have. Hope to have marriages healed, hope to restore relationships, hope that our children will be saved, and hope that though we struggle, there is eternity waiting.
So, what if this Christmas we filled our homes with hope. When we see lights that we teach our children we are to be the light of the world, that the Christmas tree (even fake ones) are evergreens symbolizing eternal life, and the presents under the tree are not because they are worthy to receive, but because we give out of an overflow of our heart.
What if, as Christians raising our children in a dark world, we give them the one thing they need: Christ. Let's start now. Let's pledge to give our children Christ not just this season, but every day of their life.
When Christ comes, we won't have to hope because we will see. And once we see, we'll never want anything else.