Peace and Joy

I guess it happens because I have always been musically inclined, but music lyrics often have a way of sticking with me.  As a little girl (I mean we are literally talking first grade), I was in a Christmas program at church where one of the songs was called “Peace and Joy.”  It was my least favorite song of the entire program.  All these years later I’m not for sure why, but my guess would be because it had a slower tempo and was a little tricky so we practiced it more than many of the others.  For whatever reason, the irony of it being my least favorite is this… I still know every word of that the song’s chorus:

Peace and joy,

Peace and joy

Hang up the holly and celebrate peace and joy.

A baby boy, was born to destroy

the sin of the world

and to celebrate peace and joy.

It does seem that peace and joy are things that are often lacking in this season.  We are so busy to attend all the functions, bake all the goodies, send all the cards, buy all the gifts, plan all the meals, practice all the songs, hang all the decorations, that we often are filled with stress instead of peace, and exhaustion instead of joy.  I LOVE all those things, but it has been a problem for me some years.

 Other years, it seems like December has been a time of greater ministry stress in our lives.  More than one Christmas I remember struggling to celebrate because of the toll the vocation of ministry was taking on our lives at the time.  Also, as a teacher I put a LOT of time and energy into Christmas festivities for my classroom, sometimes so much that I haven’t had much time or energy left to put into my OWN child (now children). 

This year, I promised myself it was going to be different.  If you have followed me at all this year, you probably have heard me discuss “joy” more than you ever wanted to hear about it, but I have really meant it.  I wanted to find the joy of the season.  I have been very intentional in spending time with my boys this year and giving them as much of my “Christmas energy” as I give my “big kids.”  We have taken trips specifically to see lights, (a) helped me decorate the tree, we have coordinated outfits (my sister calls that torture, but actually (a) LOVES that), we have made and decorated cookies, we have sung songs, read books, been to visit Santa, played in the snow, and most importantly talked a lot about the birthday of Jesus.  And so far, it has been one of my favorite Christmas seasons in years.

This week at our small group, one of our discuss questions asked us to share what words might be marking our feelings as we celebrate the birth of our Savior this year.  And I had to admit, for the first time in YEARS, that PEACE and JOY were my two greatest feelings this year.  No, this season has not been any less hectic than any other, but my vision has been different.  It’s true, we are not feeling ministry turmoil this year (thank you, Jesus!), but beyond that I have been intentional at how I let the season make me feel.  I promised myself I was not going to stress about all that stuff.  I was just going to marvel at what this season really celebrates, take all the festivities it as they came, and celebrate.  And in doing so I found what I have been needing for so many years at Christmas… PEACE and JOY.

May God richly bless you with His PEACE that passes understanding, and His unspeakable JOY this Christmas.  Merry Christmas, from my family to yours!!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of PEACE.” Isaiah 9:6

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great JOY for all the people.  Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11