Did you ever mix finger paint together when you were a child? The smooth, slippery concoction would evolve into a beautiful surprise. Brilliant blobs of blues would reach into ruby colored splotches. Swirling them wholeheartedly would reveal unbelievable hues of violet. It was so much fun!
This season, the rubies and emeralds have wrapped our banisters, doorways and dining room centerpieces with holly and ivy. The greens of wreaths remind us of God’s everlasting love. The reds recall His sacrifice on the cross.
If you mix red and green, you’ll get brown. However, this season, when some people see these colors, they’ll feel blue.Among the season of joy, salvation and miracles, there is a quiet sadness. While busloads of children dive into bows and boxes this Christmas morn, there will be others who will swallow tears. The range of colors is immense, and the emotions of this Christmas season will be vast.
Some will mourn the loss of a loved one. Some will be completely absorbed in regrets. Many will shake their head in disbelief at mounting debts. A pool of blue will form as these souls face a choice: loneliness or love?
When you are mixing colors, you keep adding a little bit of one and then the other until you are satisfied. In love, when someone is sad, you can choose to offer comfort, community, guidance, or nothing at all. Without losing who you are, you can add to someone else’s life. If you are sad, you can choose to ask for help, receive a kind gesture of friendship, lean on God, or remain in your situation. With someone to support you, you can rediscover your own strength.
I’ve been fortunate to be in both situations during the holidays: joyful and mournful. It’s easy to forget that others might be having a difficult time when the commercials advertise the sales and the carols play. It’s also easy to forget that I have a responsibility as part of Christ’s command:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV)
Lord, please help me be mindful of those who may need me to share a little bit of myself with them this holiday. Show me how to love others like you love us.