And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

~Romans 8:38 NLT

I remember them well—the good old days without Christmas separation.

When I was young, my parents planned our Christmas Day celebrations, and I didn’t complain. We headed to my paternal grandparents’ home for lunch. The five of us gathered with my dad’s sister, my uncle, and their two kids. When we walked into the house, we discovered a mountain of presents around the tree, nestled in the corner of a large living room. Our eyes bulged as we eagerly awaited the “opening ceremony.”

But not yet. First, we had to eat lunch. My grandfather’s tradition was ham, and he knew how to cook it just right. My grandmother cooked the sides. When all was done, the adults gathered around the dining room table, and we kids sat at the kitchen table. Of course, I didn’t mind. The old home only had gas space heaters, and one sat beside my kitchen chair.

We gobbled our food, knowing what followed. As we circled in the living room, my oldest cousin played Santa and handed out the gifts. After two hours of opening and playing with our toys, we headed thirty minutes down the road to my maternal grandparents’ old country farmhouse.

Mom’s sister, my uncle, and my cousins lived just next door. They walked the short distance to my grandparents’ house, where we ate . . . again. The present pile there was much smaller, but the love was just as great.

Fast forward twenty years. My family, brothers, their wives, and children gathered at Mom and Dad’s house. Our grandparents had died years before; now, Mom carried on the tradition. The food was homecooked, the presents piled high, and the fellowship precious.

Advance another several decades. Now, miles, divorces, remarriages, grandchildren, and deaths have separated us, forcing us to celebrate Christmas in segments—the entire process spreading over weeks instead of one day.

Such is the life most families live over the holidays. But despite the changes and the separations, one thing never changes—God’s love. Paul reminds us that nothing—death, divorce, remarriage, sickness, disease, financial challenges, or a sour economy—can separate us from God’s love.

And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.

~Luke 2:4 NLT

Regardless of the Christmas separations we experience, we can still celebrate the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord. And we can relish in His forgiveness, the abundant life He gives us presently, and the eternal home He promises us. Nothing can separate us from Him in the present or the future.

Even with Christmas separations, how can you celebrate the togetherness you can have with Christ and others?

Father, even when we are separated from others we love, we find comfort in knowing that nothing can separate us from Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2023: Christmas Separation: Martin Wiles: All Rights Reserved