Whether you are surrounded by family, or find yourself alone in the days ahead, the experience of Christmas leads us inevitably to the manger. There we experience Emmanuel, God with us in the world in Christ. There we celebrate the light of the world.

   At Christmas, we seek the light that leads us out of darkness toward the light of new life, “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78).

   My late husband Leighton and I were deep in conversation one day with his middle grandson, who was about three years old at the time. He was curious about everything, especially light. We talked about sunlight, moonlight, candlelight, electric light, and several other ways we experience light in everyday life and in the world. This precocious little boy paused, thought for a moment, and with the wisdom of a small child, summarized our shared thoughts with this simple, yet profound statement, “Light lets you see things.”

   The miracle of Christmas occurs when the darkness in our world is overcome by the light of God’s love, “So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them” (1 John 4:16). This is the light that shines in our heart through Christ. This is the light that holds the promise of life beyond the darkness of death, “In your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9).

   In Christmas light, we discover anew the gift of God’s love—the love that comforts our heart, the love that holds us close, the love that defeats every fear, the love that overcomes grief, "Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart” (Psalm 97:11). At this sacred, holy season:

• Christmas light dawns when God’s love reaches into our heart with the mystery of divine comfort.
• Christmas light dawns when the presence of God assures us that there is life beyond the death of our loved one.
• Christmas light dawns in moments when our heart is strangely touched by joy.
• Christmas light dawns when someone reaches out to us in love.
• Christmas light dawns when we reach out to someone in love.
• Christmas light dawns when we receive an unexpected blessing.
• Christmas light dawns when we are a blessing to others.

     As the light of God shines into our heart this Christmas, as children of light let us claim the gift of God’s love in the living promise of Emmanuel, God with us to comfort us, to redeem us, to restore us, to give us peace, and hold us in the communion of saints with the one we love and now grieve.

   In 1928, these thoughts were offered as a greeting to the congregation of Highland Park United Methodist Church by its Senior Minister, Dr. Umphrey Lee:

“As we grow older, watching the passing of plans and men, feeling the touch of winter upon our heads and upon our hearts, we come to look forward to Christmas as the Festival of Beginning Again. The eternal youth of Christianity is in its insistence upon life, not upon life as mere duration here or hereafter, but upon that surging vitality of soul and spirit which is renewed hope, recovered love, belief in the future. All this the Christian means when we testify: “I believe in God.” The essential faith begins with Bethlehem and the Child. He is forever that symbol of new life which is reborn in us today, a life that will not be bound by prejudice or meanness, that will not be held by our weakness nor by the gates of Death. May you be filled with the love of Christ at this Festival of Beginning Again.”

The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.
Isaiah 9:2