Sad? Add Some SEASON-ing

Right, Welcome to the first of hopefully a series of Christmas Posts.
Wish me Luck.

¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, New King James Version)

So sorrow and depression have been on my mind alot lately, which makes sense with my dad passing away and the "happiest" season of the year coming up. I love Christmas. The music, the lights, the red hats (spent a whole December wearing one), and the fact that Jesus stepped into history. Just gets me going.

Despite all the parties, the presents, and the "good cheer"; there are still alot of sad stories and sad songs about Christmas. Stories about being alone, losing someone, stories about loss. They are everywhere this time of year, like a shadow of the "joy" that surrounds us.

I was listening to one of these sad songs when I realized it wasn't the same, it was somehow different. Here is that song from Relient K.



and here are the lyrics. (I've tried to link, if that doesn't work copy and paste the address)
lyrics
http://www.superlyrics.com/lyrics/kGRUvnaPBM@H@x/Merry_Christmas,_Here's_To_Many_More_lyrics_by_Relient_K.html

Go ahead, listen, read. I'll wait...............

Dude was having a crappy year, not the worst but darn close. It was Christmas time and he had come home to his friends and family celebrating. He had to go in and face all this "cheer" and "joy." Not only that, but he'd be expected to join in. Now note the change in the middle of the 2nd verse:

And living out my days alone, well, that had been my deepest fear
But you promised you won't leave

That turn isn't based off the the behavior of the people or Dude, because we return to the chorus and everything is the same. Not Dude, he had changed his perspective. Dude remebered that his joy didn't come from things or people. His joy came from his hope, placed in his Savior Jesus Christ.

I rejoice not because my father died, but like Jesus, he and I will rise again. There we will worship the one who came down to earth to save us from our sins, forever.

Care to join us? It's easy just believe the last paragraph. Done. Now rejoice or mourn this Christmas in a new way. Not like the world does, but having hope that you will be raised with the one who was born into a manger.

Merry Christmas!