Strings of lights, boxes of ornaments from years gone by and the sound of Christmas music are all part of how we begin to prepare our home for the holidays. This year as I dug all of those special boxes out of the storage room to prepare our space I felt the sting of loss. Usually the holiday season brings many fun parties, family gatherings, concerts, and road trips to Grandma and Grandpa’s. This year however there is so much uncertainty, so many cancelled events, and the potential of seeing our loved ones is feeling less and less likely. It’s hard to not feel discouraged. The constant anticipation of when the next shoe might drop has become exhausting and is beginning to wear on everyone.

The two struggles I’m finding myself in are, how do I lead myself through disappointment and how do I lead others through disappointment? These two things are more connected than I care to admit. I often struggle internally thinking; I can contain my disappointment and discouragement, I can manage, I can stuff it down so far that no one will notice.

As a mom, wife, and leader the need for life to go on is a necessity. When I fail to lead myself well it affects my leadership of others. My family, our church body and my sphere of influence all suffer the consequence. “Good leaders know how to lead themselves well” is one of the foundational leadership principals I have been taught. It’s true, how can you lead someone else when you can’t lead yourself.

As I pondered my emotions, and contemplated how I’m doing as I sifted through the beautiful decorations I let those feelings stay for a while. This year has been a difficult one for me and my extended family and although Covid has made everything that much harder, it hasn’t been the sole culprit of our pain. As I sat there I was reminded of Psalm 42:5 “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again-- my savior and my God.”

There are many physical things I can do to help myself cope, I know that being physically active helps, I know that staying connected to my community and friends helps, I know that keeping a routine helps, but they are not my hope. They are how I cope. How are you leading yourself through disappointment? Have you thought about that much, or are you on auto pilot, stuffing your emotions down deep in order to carry on?

Leading yourself to the hope found in Christ Jesus is the reason we celebrate this special season. While our best laid plans might come crumbling down this Christmas, God’s plans remain, He is unchanging, He is mighty and powerful, His story is still worthy of celebration and He is still our hope. Let this Hope spill over on your people, let Jesus be enough this Christmas. Jesus' birth didn’t look anything like the prophets thought it would, instead Jesus came as a baby, he lay in a manger found in a small stable.

That was it; but that was enough.

Our celebrations might seem as bleak as the stable did the night of his birth, but the Hope of the world was more than enough.