Reminder of true reason for the season

"This is how God loved the world: He gave His only Son, so that everyone believing in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

- John 3:16 (NLT)

When I was a child, our family received hundreds of Christmas cards each year. My mother did a lot of volunteering in the community, forming lasting friendships and acquaintances at each organization she worked with.

As December rolled around, I enjoyed running to the mailbox to retrieve the handful of Christmas cards and bring them in. By the number of cards coming in each day, it was apparent how much she was loved and admired by the people whose lives she touched.

Hardly a year goes by without my niece and I reminiscing over how the wall of Christmas cards, with its colorful scenes and warm sentiments, cellophane taped up and down our living room wall, displayed a picturesque appearance of what Christmastime was all about.

It is a season filled with the warmth of family, friends and the Holy Nativity of Jesus Christ's birth.

I don't receive nearly the amount of cards as my mom. But I enjoy displaying the ones I do get just as much.

This year, as I was putting out my cards, I wasn't getting quite the festive feel-good sensation it usually brings me. I found the sympathy card sitting on my kitchen table beckoning to be signed, weighing on my heart and mind, instead.

Sending a sympathy card or attending a funeral service didn't seem like something someone should have to do during this time for joyous season's greetings. I felt if God would simply do away with people passing during Christmastime, it would be much better.

At that moment, I felt God was reminding me of the true meaning and joy of Christmas - by believing in Jesus Christ's birth, death and resurrection, we receive the gift of eternal life in heaven. He loved us so much to sacrifice His own Son so we could live forever.

Getting back to my task, I still felt saddened for the family and the loss of my friend. But focusing on this truth, my heart felt a bit lighter.

I sat and penned my sentiments on the sympathy card, then I finished setting out my Christmas cards, keeping the sacredness and joy of the occasion in mind.

When I pondered writing this subject for my Christmas column, it seemed sort of a strange idea. But I felt God wanted me to share my grief and extend condolences to others who may be saddened over the loss of a loved one during this season of faith, family and friends.

And to serve as a reminder for all of us to celebrate with joy the true reason for the season.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.