Originally published Friday, 11 December 2020.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NIV.
Christmas is different this year,
like so many other things of 2020.
My living room should be half-decorated
two days after Thanksgiving, but
not a single nativity has escaped the shed.
Packing boxes crowd the house instead.
Though Jesus in our hearts resides.
Christmas eve will be different this year,
like so many other church services these days.
If we light a candle for Silent Night
our two or three candles won’t burn very bright,
no chorus of voices will loudly ring.
Virtual services the new normal thing.
Yet Jesus will never change.
Christmas day will be different this year.
For the first time in 25 years all will be quiet.
I won’t wake my son from his slumber
for Christmas breakfast, stockings, and presents,
to toss tissue balls for the dog to shred.
He’ll be waking up in his own place instead.
But Jesus remains the same.
Christmas will play out different this year,
the usual traditions thrown to the wind.
If my son comes over it’ll just be us three.
There will be no road trip to visit family.
No present exchange or cookies to share.
Only Christmas cards to say we care.
Still Jesus forever lives as King.
Linda L. Kruschke is the author of My Name Is Beloved, winner of the Unpublished Memoir category of the Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Writing Contest, as well as a self-published author of two poetry books. She is a wife, mother, active member of her church, former Bible Study Fellowship leader, and recovering lawyer. She works as the Director of Legal Publications for the Oregon State Bar. But her real passion is sharing God’s healing grace with others, especially those haunted by sexual trauma and abortion. She struggled with major clinical depression for many years, but through the power of forgiveness has become a fearless follower of Christ, living in the assurance of her salvation and God’s love. She blogs at Another Fearless Year and Broken Believers.
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