The other day one of my posts entitled “Mothering melodrama” received a fairly negative comment. At first the criticism stung and my feelings were hurt, but as I thought about it I came to see the reader’s point. She felt I was complaining, which had not been my mindset, but her point that I had left out any sort of Christian message was correct. For both reasons, I apologize.

I know you all experience the days, like I did when I wrote that blog post, when your list of “to do’s” exceeds your time, energy, and brain power. This happens even more in this hectic holiday season, which should be about hope, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness.

And isn’t that what Christmas is all about? It is about our need for the greatest gift given: Salvation from our amazing and compassionate Savior Jesus and His gift of light. His light gives us freedom from fear, darkness, envy, greed, anger, and a host of other negative emotions. Just as my daughter’s reaction to her pancakes that morning produced anger, so many other circumstances in life produce in us emotions that would pull us away from the meaning of this season.

I missed a huge opportunity that day with my daughter and with you, our wonderful readers, to share the hope of this season, the reason Jesus came as a baby to endure this human life. Just as I do throughout so many of my tasks in this season, in that moment, with my daughter, I lost my focus to love and share the hope and freedom of Jesus.

May the love and joy of Jesus’ gift be your encouragement and give you rest. Merry Christmas, sisters.