What Christmas is NOT about!

Everyone once is a while our world just needs to be shaken.

We had gathered for our Christmas gathering with our family at my parents.  The agenda for the day was food, more food, and Christmas joy.   About the time I get too comfortable, God interrupts my world.

Her hair was covered with stains of  blood.  Her cheeks were swollen.  Her foot was in a brace.  She still had on the clothes cove rd with blood.  She was watching the police search her house.  Her spouse had been carried off in handcuffs hollering vulgarities at her.  Her children were in the car.  She was the new neighbor whom mom  had already befriended

This is NOT how a Christmas morning is supposed to be for any child of God regardless of age.

The words she said seemed so strange to hear.  "Jesus did this to me to...."  I did not even hear the rest of it.  My brother, who is also a pastor, would not let those words be the last thing she heard.  "Jesus did NOT do this to you...." He was quite sure of that and wanted her to know it.

Domestic violence rises during the holiday season.  It is bad enough during the ordinary days of life.  However, during economic stress combined with holiday consumption of everything that is legal or illegal, children of God--big and little--spend their holiday in the tragedy of abuse.  The saddest part and the part hardest for me to understand is that it normally is not the first offense.

The world twists the concept of love and peace into something that God never intended.  Love does not allow anyone to abuse you physically or emotionally.  Peace is not living in the secrecy of such abuse.  The birth of Jesus says something quite differently.  Life can be better.  Life is intended to be better!

If you are in an abusive relationship, get out!  Shred the veil of secrecy that could take your life or the life of those around you.  If you know of someone in such a relationship, do all you can to get them out!  If you are person who is abusing another, seek help.   You are not well.  Your world will fall.  It may seem secure but it is not.

And for those who are like me,  Lord, continue to shake our world so that we cannot ignore the places in our world where Christmas is far from silent or far from peace.  Do this for the sake of all Your children--young or old. 

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Rev. Dr. M. Jack O'Dell