Dec 6th Family

Family.   Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em  !!

Christmas is traditionally a time for family isnt it?  A time when most people get a day off work and make the effort to be with their relations, often across the generations and spend time with people they perhaps don't see much at other times in the year.   It's a time when students come home from college,  grandparents join the grandchildren, cousins spend time together and aunts and uncles are invited for Christmas dinner.  Or at least that's what Disney and Coca Cola and the supermarket adverts would have us believe

It might have been the case many years ago - and undoubtably its still the case for some people today.  But quite probably for the majority of those reading this, Christmas won't be a time of unadulterated family bliss.   People are scattered from their families more today than at any time in history.  You are as likely to have a sibling on the other side of the world as you are to have one in the next town or village.   You are as likely to be living in a single parent family, or have a blended family or even be completely alone than conform to the ' traditional' norms.   Relationships are probably more complicated and families more fractured than they have ever been.   Which can make occasions like Christmas really difficult.

I have friends who are single ( in fact one is a Monk!) who have nowhere to go on Christmas day.  They don't want to impinge on anyone elses family day - it makes them feel awkward.  But they don't want to be alone at Christmas either.  Its tricky.  Then there are the separated families trying to negotiate who has the children for which part of the day.  And then there are those of us like me who are separated from their parents by huge distances and rarely if ever get the chance to see them at Christmas because flights are so stupidly expensive and it just isn't practical.   I know people who have been bereaved this year and who will find Christmas incredibly painful because someone special will be missing - and Christmas as it has always been, will never be that way again.  And what about the families who just don't get on and  find Christmas is a time which exacerbates all the difficulties and is a cause of arguments and stress?

As a church we are a family.  God says so.  We are a body , all related to each other because we are related to Jesus the head.  He is our brother - the firstborn.  Our DNA is spiritual and we should have all things in common, be living in unity and rejoicing / weeping when each other rejoices/weeps.   Of course we all know that in practice its every bit as hard to be a church family as it is to be a natural one.  But Christmas is a time for families.  So let's take this time of advent, of preparing, to see if there is anything we need to be doing to build stronger families.  Let's resolve to repair any damage we have caused.  Apologise to people we may have neglected all year.  Invite those we know to be lonely.  Help those we know are struggling in the run up to Christmas.  Let's reach out to those who don't know what Christmas is all about and welcome them into our carol services and nativity plays and Christmas day celebrations.  Let us be sensitive to the agony of the bereaved and the pain of those separated from their loved ones.  And if we can comfort or help let's do it.

Lord, thank you for families, for my family, for my church family.  Bless every one of them this Christmas time and bring the fullness of who You are to each person .  For many Christmas can be a stressful and difficult or lonely time.  But you are the God who sets the lonely in families, defends widows and cares for orphans.  I'm so glad you are that kind of God.  Please provide for those who are in need this Christmas - especially those who need restoration of relationships, freedom from stress and comfort in grief.  Help me to see the needs of those around me and understand the needs of the people You have chosen to give me as my family.  May I appreciate them more.  Amen