Christmas has always looked different for me in different seasons of my life. I can’t remember engaging in many activities as a child, but there was the excitement of getting Christmas clothes and shoes.  As I grew older, I didn’t get that much excitement from getting Christmas clothes and shoes anymore.

When I moved to the UK to study about three years ago, Christmas was different because I was celebrating without my family for the first time (this year makes it the fourth). But on the other hand, I’ve celebrated with friends turned family and enjoyed different experiences, like celebrating on Christmas Eve, engaging in some activities, and having a Christmas dinner.

This year, I envisaged I was going to have a quiet, solo Christmas because it’s another season of life. (But I’ll now be celebrating with friends.) And maybe, like me, that’s what you envisage too. Perhaps, Christmas feels different this year and it has taken you on a journey of Christmases past and you feel nostalgic; remember to embrace the present and celebrate as you deem fit.

The same way you’ve had stories to tell of Christmases past is the same way you’ll have stories to tell of the present, and they’ll make up part of your future stories. So, embrace whatever season you’re in now, and ask yourself, ‘How do I want to tell the story of this season in the future?’

However Christmas looks for you, I hope that as we celebrate our Saviour’s birth,

May your heart be filled with joy

May your desires be granted

May you have happy stories to tell

Season’s Greetings!