The beauty of the Holidays always makes me smile. The colorful trees and joyful decorations along with the music and celebrations make it a magical time of the year. But there is a flipside to this glowing holiday – the rushing around, trying to get a million things accomplished, the pressure of getting just the right gifts and the challenges that come from difficult relationships. Often, our joy can be zapped by the busyness and stress of the season.

Ultimately, I want to live with joy, love and forgiveness throughout the holidays – and I’m sure you do too. I don’t want another Christmas to whiz by without sharing the hope of the season with others.  Here are a few simple ways to intentionally live with hope and shine the light of Jesus into the lives of the people around us.

See Hope. Every person has potential, so let’s open our eyes to look for the positive possibilities in each person we encounter throughout our day. It’s easy to focus on the glaring negatives of friends and family (and even strangers) and see nothing but their mistakes. Aren’t you glad that God looks at us with eyes of grace and hope? If He sees our potential, shouldn’t we do the same for others? Remember, He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Since God sees hope in us, let us allow the God of hope to love through us.

Speak Hope. Our words have the ability to offer life, but they also have the ability to tear down and destroy. How we use our words says a lot about our character. Do you use your words to say kind and uplifting truths to the people around you, or do you use your words to gossip, complain, argue and grumble? During this season and all year through, let us use our words to infuse joy and hope into the lives of others.

Bring Hope.  We can’t do everything, but we can do something. There are simple ways to bring hope to the people God has placed in our lives, so let’s be intentional about doing it. Ask God to open your eyes to the needs around you and consider one small act of hope that you can do this season. Share a meal, decorate cookies and give them to neighbors, greet people with a smile, write a note to someone who has been a blessing to you this year – it only takes a moment to brighten another life.

In our world today, every person could use a hearty dose of hope. Let us be lights that shine hope through the darkness in our world this Christmas.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

Romans 15:13

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