Chosen Joy

This 1960s Christmas Album – Tijuana Christmas by the Toreador Abrams’s makes me so happy! As one of my boys said to me “does it give you nostalgia?”

Why yes – yes it does. It transports me straight back to my childhood and my parents putting the album on the record player. It’s jovial, upbeat, a glorious celebration of Christmas through its vibrant rendition.

This week, stuck in rush-hour traffic, I found myself belting out the tunes of this album (yes it’s on iTunes!) and the frustration gave way to enjoyment.

It’s so easy to not feel in the Christmas spirit. Too Weighed down by deadlines and a packed calendar to engage in what Christmas means. To forget to pause and embrace what this season is all about.

Leaning into a favourite Christmas carol, lighting that fragrant Christmas candle or playing the popular Christmas movie can be the spark that we need.

The joy of the season isn’t about ignoring life’s challenges and pretending they don’t exist during December. Life doesn’t have to be perfect to embrace the joy of Christmas. Instead, it is about knowing that even in the grit and messiness of life, God is good. That He is present with us.

The shepherds knew the joy of seeing the Saviour in the manger; and then years later the disciples knew the joy of the resurrected Lord. We too can know this precious joy regardless of our circumstances for God is with us.

Choose joy.