After a long period of pandemic and isolation, if you’re like me, you’re longing to connect and resume relationships and activities.  Again, if you’re like me, you’ve endured feelings of loneliness and despair during this long time of separation.

The really good news about Christmas is that God chooses to make connection with us.  God sent his son Jesus to be born like us into a human family to establish relationship with us, to give us hope and to reveal His love for us.  Another name for Jesus is Emmanuel: “God with us.”

I’m filled with awe, thankfulness and hope that at Christmas we celebrate with joy the truth that God in Jesus chose to be “with us” – to be connected – to include us as family. We are never alone!

As we start to come out of our pandemic isolation and seek reconnection, let’s also celebrate and strive to connect with Jesus, our brother and Saviour, who chooses to be “with us” at Christmas and always.

The author of the book of Hebrews says that Jesus was fully human in every way except without sin – and so He can connect with us in whatever we are going through or having to endure.  We are never alone, never without hope.

God gives Jesus to us as a gift.  I really enjoy giving gifts at Christmas and connecting with others through cards and phone calls.  It’s a way of giving myself and showing love.  God loves us so much that He gives the gift of Himself to us in Jesus.

Gifts are not really about money.  They are expressions of self.  So, this Christmas why not give the gift of yourself to others?  Be creative in the ways in which you reach out to others to let them know they are loved and appreciated. 

Remember – the hope of Christmas is that God desires to connect with you and that you are a special part of His family. 

God is “with us.”  That’s the really good news I have for you this Christmas!