The Holidays Will Never Look the Same
If I’m honest, there’s a small part of me that longs for those simpler times. Back when everything was planned for me—meals prepped and travel arrangements made without me. Anyone else feel that way?
Coming early to you this week, but given what we’re remembering and rejoicing tonight and tomorrow, I hope it’s understandable.
Jumping in…
For me, Christmas used to be the most dependable season of all. As a child, it was filled with an undeniable rhythm of joy and comfort. There were the long, cozy school breaks, sometimes even stretching longer if the snow came early. I remember the excitement of Santa Claus events, playing with cousins, family visits, and the familiar faces that would surround us every year. Our Chinese house would fill with the scent of dumplings and a hot glue gun (what?) as my mom made us hand-make our Christmas ornaments, and gifts would gather beneath the Christmas tree, each wrapped perfectly.
I would drive around with my parents, eyes wide at the twinkling Christmas lights. The air was colder, the days shorter, and I was almost always in my pajamas, basking in the warmth of it all. That was Christmas to me. Simple. Magical. Steeped in tradition.
But now, as I sit in my mid-thirties, the holidays have changed in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. Over half of the relatives I once spent every Christmas with are no longer here. My grandpa passed when I was 18, and then, just a year later, my mom followed. My dad, who moved to Taiwan when I was just eight, has been far away for most of my life. My cousins are scattered across the U.S. and overseas. And now, I’m the one hosting—juggling my own little family, my child, and in-laws. Christmas doesn’t look the same anymore.
If I’m honest, there’s a small part of me that longs for those simpler times. The ones where all I had to do was slip into my Christmas pajamas and show up. Back when everything was planned for me—meals prepared, travel arrangements made, traditions carried out without me lifting a finger. Does anyone else feel that way? That nostalgia for a time when Christmas was a bit easier, when the world seemed to stop for those precious few days? I know it doesn’t make sense to wish I could go back, but feelings aren’t always rational, are they? They’re real, even if they’re hard to understand.
This past Sunday, my pastor preached on the true meaning of Christmas. He talked about the birth of Jesus—the eternal Son of God who became man, stepping into our broken world. And in that moment, it hit me in a way it never had before. I’ve been following Christ for over a decade, and yet, I’m just now fully realizing that Christmas isn’t about doing everything "right" or perfecting old traditions. It’s about celebrating the incredible truth that God came to us! Whether He came on Dec 25th or any other day in the calendar year, the fact still remains that He came to us!
Jesus didn’t come because we were good enough, but because of how gracious God is. He entered this world in the humblest of ways—no fanfare, no royal birth. And yet, His arrival was nothing short of glorious. This season is a time to rejoice in the miracle that Christ, our Savior, has come. The Savior promised in the Old Testament, whose arrival we can stand in awe of, whose love we can treasure in our hearts.
Even if you’re not sure you believe that truth, can you at least admit you want it to be true? Don’t we all long for peace in this chaotic world? And a peace that isn’t fleeting, but grounded in love and sacrifice—the kind of peace that only God can offer? That’s what this season is really about. Not the presents, the perfect tree, or the traditions we used to cling to. It’s about the greatest gift we could ever receive: the peace and love of Christ, born for us all.
Whether all my childhood family were still with me today or not, I'm beginning to realize that the story of Jesus is the one unchanging thread that runs through it all, and that’s something I can endlessly praise God for. As much as Christmas seasons don't look the same as they once did, my understanding of the gospel—of the hope and joy that Jesus brings—wasn't even on my radar back then. Growing up, celebrating God during the season just wasn’t part of the picture. So, even though the holiday might feel different now—whether I’m feeling the weight of solitude or surrounded by new faces and loved ones—there’s a deeper blessing that wasn’t there before. I now have the gift of seeing Jesus in everything, in every moment.
Maybe that’s part of the reason the holidays no longer look as they once did. Perhaps God is more concerned with my sanctification—my growth in Him—than my comfort. And if that means that Christmas no longer looks exactly the same, maybe that’s okay. Because even in the change, there’s a deeper, truer joy waiting for me, one that’s rooted in the eternal hope of Christ.
So, as we all step into this season, I’d love to know— how does this holiday season feel for you? What is God reminding you of today?
Lastly,
