I have always loved Christmas, however this year will be very different as I lost my mother a month ago. When my siblings and I were growing up our Mum made sure we had a lovely Christmas, with all the trimmings. We were also taught the real meaning of Christmas. Mum had the Hope of Heaven because she knew this small baby arriving in Bethlehem so long ago to grow up and die on a cross for her.

Her legacy to us was encouraging us to seek out God. Mum and Dad supplied the means by sharing His story, sending us to Sunday school and church, but it was up to us, as individuals, to meet God one-on-one and accept Jesus into our lives – which I did, when I was eight-years-old.

We have the assurance that Mum is with our Dad in heaven and one day we will be reunited with both of them.

However, that first acceptance of Christ in my life didn’t stop there. Throughout my life it has been a constant work in progress. Like every relationship, it takes time and effort on our part to keep the communication alive, when we bravely take the challenge of accepting Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

One of my favourite scripture verses is from Romans 8:37 – 39:

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers.

“Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Christmas is a personal experience because God planned it for each person individually.

You and I are precious in His sight, he wants the best for each of us, it is up to us.

We can either accept Him or reject Him. But friends it is the ‘greatest story ever told’ and it is told for you to embrace.