Don’t look at your problems; don’t look at your limitations. Focus on the Prince of Peace. This Christmas season – choose joy.
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JONI: Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada.
SHAUNA: And I’m Shauna Amick.
JONI: And, Shauna, I’m glad you’re here, because together we’re going to say –
JONI and SHAUNA: Merry Christmas!
JONI: That’s right! Merry Christmas, friend. It’s right around the corner. The decorations are up, Christmas cards are spreading joy through the mail, folks are making their lists and checking them twice, and the air – this is what I love – is full of Christmas carols.
SHAUNA: Oh, that’s my favorite, Joni! If it was up to me, I’d be playing Christmas songs all year long. What’s your favorite Christmas carol?
JONI: Okay…[singing] “Joy to the World, the Lord is come.” I know it’s about the second Advent. But I sing it – and everybody sings it – as a first Advent song. It’s so powerful. And what about you?
SHAUNA: Well, you know, you know my daughter Sarah loves Elvis. And so, it goes without saying that I love any Christmas song that Elvis sings.
JONI: [singing] “Blue, blue Christmas without you.”
SHAUNA: Of course, I love “Silent Night.” Of course, I love “Joy to the World.” And my very favorite, though, is “O Come, Let Us Adore Him.”
JONI: Okay, I hear a story brewing. What’s that about?
SHAUNA: Well, you know, I remember last Christmas, when I had packed the kids up, and we went down to Main Street. I just wanted to show them, you know, Christmas lights and the decorations of the stores, and hopefully hear some music. Just get in the spirit of things. And while we were there getting into the Christmas spirit, we came upon another family that was doing the exact same thing. And it was a mom and dad, the grandparents, and the children. A whole family gathered together to really get into the Christmas spirit. What was different is that one of their children was using a power wheelchair.
JONI: Okay.
SHAUNA: It was clear he had significant cerebral palsy, and that alone let me know he had significant medical appointments, therapy sessions, complicated caregiving routines.
JONI: And you better be sure, mom and dad were probably very tired, very weary, even on that day.
SHAUNA: That’s right. You can just imagine what their whole year looked like. But in that moment, on Main Street, I heard that sound of beautiful Christmas music, and I saw that family deciding to choose joy.
JONI: [singing] “O come, let us adore Him.”
SHAUNA: That’s right. I couldn’t help but just stop and watch them from a distance for a little while. And I also couldn’t help noticing some of the looks that they were getting from the other folks as they were passing by. It was almost like other people were confused that that family could be so happy. It’s true. But instead of staring at their struggles, that family, you know, they were staring at the nativity scene that was in the storefront window before them.
JONI: What a great metaphor, right?
SHAUNA: Oh, it was so beautiful; I mean, it brought tears to my eyes. And I could almost hear the words of Luke 2 where the angel says, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord”
JONI: Absolutely! Don’t stare at your problems; don’t stare at the limitations. Don’t focus on that. Focus on Jesus. It is all about Him. Come, let us adore Him. You know, this is such great news. Come alive in Jesus, reminding us that God sees us, He hears our cries, and help is on the way. Help and hope came that day when Jesus was born, our Savior who takes away the sin of the world. And not just that. He takes away hopelessness and despair. And no doubt, that family you saw, Shauna, I’m sure that that day gave them great hope.
SHAUNA: I know it did.
JONI: Just focusing on the Lord Jesus. So, friend, put on that Christmas music – (singing) “O come, let us adore Him,” – send out the Christmas cards. Come, let us adore Him! You know, don’t look at your problems; don’t look at your limitations. Focus on the Prince of Peace. Right, Shauna?
SHAUNA: That’s right.
JONI: Merry Christmas, everybody!
SHAUNA: Merry Christmas! Thanks for listening today on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope.
© Joni and Friends