1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to Hope for the Journey, the podcast for women 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: over forty who are ready to rise, rebuild, and reclaim 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: their story. I'm your host, Monica, and each week you'll 4 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: hear real, raw comeback stories from women who have walked 5 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: through the fire and found purpose on the other side. 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: If you're navigating change, chasing a dream, or simply searching 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: for your next step, you're not alone. This is your 8 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: place for courage, community, and the reminder that it's never 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: too late to rewrite the ending. 10 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 2: Today I Hope for the Journey. We are talking about 11 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 2: how flexibility actually reveals the love of Christ during the 12 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 2: busy holiday season. We are calling that unwrapping grace. So 13 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 2: hang out with me for just a moment from a 14 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 2: word from our sponsors, and I will be right back. Hi. 15 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 2: I'm Monica, and this is the Hope for the Journey podcast, 16 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 2: the podcast for women over forty, and the podcast that 17 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 2: reminds us that it's never too late to rewrite our story. 18 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 2: So today it's unwrapping grace. It's taking a look at 19 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 2: how if we're flexible during this holiday season, that we 20 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 2: can actually show others the love of Christ. We all 21 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: know that the holiday season arrives each year. Right, it's 22 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 2: wrapped in expectations, traditions to uphold, gatherings to plan, meals 23 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: to repair, and memories to recreate. There's just so much. 24 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: Yet life rarely stays the same from one year to 25 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 2: the next. Children grow, loved ones move, and also, you know, 26 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 2: our circumstances shift in ways that we don't always expect. 27 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 2: Just take a moment to ponder what your life and 28 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 2: what your family looks like this holiday season and contrast 29 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 2: that with last holiday season. Have people moved, have things changed? 30 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 2: Did your job transfer take you to another location, did 31 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: you get a new job? Just all of these things 32 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 2: can affect and impact the peace that we have in 33 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: our holiday season. It it can affect how we can 34 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 2: stay connected to Christ and to others as well. So 35 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 2: while circumstances shift, you know, in the ways that we 36 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 2: don't always expect, we can also see that through these changes, 37 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 2: I've learned that flexibility it's not only helpful for enjoying 38 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 2: the holidays, it's a spiritual posture. It's a spiritual posture 39 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: that keeps our hearts centered on Christ and that's what 40 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 2: we all want during the Christmas season. Flexibility helps us 41 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 2: hold on to what matters most, which is our faith 42 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 2: in Christ, our connection with others, and the gratitude that 43 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 2: just automatically flows from God's goodness. And how do we 44 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 2: tap into all of that when we've got places to be, 45 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: we've got gifts to wrap, we're hosting for company to 46 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: come over, or we're packing up the car and we 47 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: are traveling to Grayla's house or wherever, getting on a plane, traveling. 48 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 2: How do we loosen our grip on how everything must 49 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 2: go or the way that we think it should go. 50 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: But when we loosen our grip, we free our hands 51 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 2: to receive what God is doing right now. Now, I 52 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: will give you full disclosure here. I am a recovering 53 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 2: control freak. I didn't learn any of these lessons that 54 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 2: we are talking about today on the Hope for the 55 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: Journey podcast. I didn't learn any of these lessons easily. 56 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 2: I had a lot of holidays that I spent goodness, 57 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 2: feeling over committed, feeling pressed for time, feeling like I 58 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 2: needed to spend more than I really should because I 59 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 2: needed to get a gift for this person, or to 60 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 2: celebrate this way all the things. But what happened in 61 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 2: my life is after hearing many of the guests that 62 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: I have on the Bridges Show. After I heard them 63 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 2: share time after time how flexibility helped them find joy 64 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 2: in the holidays, I began to see that letting go 65 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 2: can draw us closer to Christ. Now, this doesn't mean 66 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 2: that letting go of how we I think it should 67 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: go or must go, or what we've planned. I will 68 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,559 Speaker 2: not tell you that that is easy, but I will 69 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 2: say that for me, it was an intentional decision. So 70 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 2: do I just let everything just go? Is that what 71 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 2: we should do? No? I make a plan. Right If 72 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 2: I'm hosting Christmas dinner, which I usually do, I've got 73 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: a menu, I've got to shop for those things. I've 74 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 2: got to set put out the place settings, you know, 75 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 2: and as a mom, I get the gifts under the tree. 76 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: And I'm sure that even if your list, your to 77 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 2: do list is different than mine. Typically at the Christmas 78 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 2: the holiday season, we have church events to go to. 79 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 2: We might see a special music show, a Christmas pageant, 80 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 2: just Christmas party. There's just all of these things. And 81 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 2: usually there's so much food at all of these things. 82 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: And that's a topic for another podcast, but for this 83 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:05,679 Speaker 2: one today, Unrepping Grace how flexibility can give us joy 84 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 2: and actually show people the love of Christ during the 85 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: holiday season. So I began to see for me, the 86 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 2: recovering control freak that I am, that if I made 87 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 2: the intentional choice to slow down, to make all the plans, 88 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 2: but also to make that commitment to myself and to God. 89 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 2: And usually one of the things that really helps me 90 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 2: is community. If I share it with a trusted friend, Hey, 91 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 2: this is my plan, and that is this year. When 92 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:46,919 Speaker 2: things shift, things go wrong, whatever, I'm just going to 93 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: stay still and enjoy the holiday season. I'm not going 94 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 2: to let any of that disturb my peace. And these 95 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: might be things that would be helpful for you as well, 96 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 2: because there are no perfect holidays families, you know, there 97 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: can be conflict, there can be just even geographic location 98 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 2: can make it hard for people to get together. But 99 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 2: if we can be flexible and just accept what happens 100 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 2: and the changes that we want to make or the 101 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 2: changes that are kind of forced upon us, we can 102 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: let ourselves grow closer to Christ. We can also share 103 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 2: with other people. They will see how flexible we are, 104 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 2: and they will see that we care about them and 105 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 2: that we care about our faith and our peace. The 106 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 2: true heart of Christmas always remains unchanged. When we approach Christmas, 107 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 2: Christmas with rigidity, we may unintentionally create stress or disappointment. 108 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 2: So let me ask you this. Have you ever created 109 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 2: your own stress or disappointment because you had an idea 110 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 2: of how things should go but they didn't. I can 111 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 2: give you yet another full disclosure. I've had many holidays 112 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 2: that didn't go the way that I thought they should, 113 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 2: and I have ended up in disappointment and in unmet expectations. 114 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 2: And it can be everything from small things like people 115 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 2: didn't eat a lot of the food that I put out, 116 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,719 Speaker 2: but I felt like everybody should pile their plates and 117 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 2: eat more because I had cooked enough for a medium 118 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 2: sized army. So we can get rigid about many things, 119 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 2: even what day or what time that we celebrate, or 120 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 2: this is the way our family has always done it. 121 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 2: Or if a guest has to cancel last minute, oh 122 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 2: my goodness, that can be so disappointed disappointing. I remember 123 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 2: a holiday that a family member and her husband they 124 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 2: had to cancel the day of because they woke up 125 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 2: sick and they were running a fever. Well, that's disappointing. 126 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 2: We didn't have as many guests. I wanted to be 127 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 2: able to see everybody for Christmas, and I thought about, 128 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 2: oh what about our family Christmas picture? But the important 129 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 2: thing was for me to stay flexible to show the 130 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 2: love of Christ. Hey, I'm praying for you. We will 131 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 2: miss you. How about I wrap up some plates after 132 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 2: we're done and just do a porch shop. Just bring 133 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 2: this food to your porch, because even though you're sick, 134 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 2: you'll still want you to have a good Christmas meal. 135 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 2: So think about the last few holiday seasons at your 136 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 2: house or your apartment. Have there been things where you 137 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 2: just got really disappointed because it didn't go the way 138 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 2: that you were hoping, maybe even the way that you 139 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 2: were praying. I think another thing that we can do 140 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 2: is try to recreate past celebrations, and man, we try 141 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 2: to recreate the past celebrations, we can be so disheartened 142 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 2: when things shift. But if we make that intentional choice 143 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 2: at the beginning of the holiday season, like you can 144 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 2: choose to do that right now with me, that if 145 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 2: something's got to shift, maybe you have to celebrate Christmas 146 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 2: early because people are traveling. That kind of flexibility in 147 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 2: the holiday season can show people that they matter to us. 148 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 2: More than just our plans. When we release the pressure 149 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 2: of perfection, Oh boy, and is there ever pressure that 150 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:07,679 Speaker 2: goes along with perfection? And these cases, our hearts are 151 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:11,439 Speaker 2: more open to the presence of Jesus, the one who 152 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 2: brings peace that isn't dependent uncircumstances. I've got to take 153 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 2: a break for just a moment. We'll come back right 154 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 2: after a word from our sponsors. Only Jesus can bring 155 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 2: the kind of peace that isn't dependent on our circumstances. 156 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 2: I'm so glad that you're joining me today on the 157 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 2: Hope for the Journey podcast, the podcast for women over 158 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 2: forty who know and want to know that it's never 159 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 2: too late to rewrite your story. And as we look 160 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 2: at today's flexibility in the holiday season as a way 161 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 2: of unwrapping grace and being flexible to open our hearts 162 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 2: more to Christ to not have that idea of how 163 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 2: things should go and just insist on that or end 164 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 2: up in hurt or disappointment because it didn't go the 165 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 2: way that you hoped, thought or perhaps even prayed. Maybe 166 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 2: this year's Christmas dinner is store bought, maybe at your 167 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 2: home this year, and maybe for the first time, the 168 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 2: kids are spending time between two households. Maybe it's you 169 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 2: don't get to see your grandchildren because they're spending time 170 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:40,839 Speaker 2: between two households, and perhaps that came on you as 171 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 2: an unwonted thing. And at the holidays you're reminded that 172 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 2: the family is different than the way it used to look. 173 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 2: But again, if we can be flexible and not allow 174 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 2: the things and not allow the circumstances to dictate how 175 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 2: we feel and how we enjoy the holidays, things will 176 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 2: be so much lighter and brighter. Perhaps you're celebrating early 177 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 2: to accommodate travel. For example, this in my family, this 178 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 2: is the first time that my husband and I ever 179 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 2: won't be able to celebrate Christmas with our adult son. 180 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 2: He's going to be out of the country. 181 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 1: Now. 182 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 2: We were going to miss him, and I wish it 183 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 2: didn't have to be that way, but it does. So 184 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:44,200 Speaker 2: here's what we did. We celebrated Christmas with him before 185 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 2: he left to leave out of the country and he's 186 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 2: in Brazil, and we're so thankful that he gets to 187 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 2: be with his wife and daughter, who are still working 188 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 2: through some immigration issues so that they can be here. 189 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 2: I had also prayed very hard that his family would 190 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 2: be here by this Christmas. But here's the thing. I 191 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 2: didn't let that disappointment wreck the holidays. Instead, I decided, okay, God, 192 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 2: you know best. They're not here like I planned and 193 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 2: prayed and hoped and dreamed. But thank you Jesus that 194 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 2: my son gets to go there and spend five weeks 195 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 2: with his family, and it should be very soon that 196 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 2: they get to come here. And if you'd pray about that, 197 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 2: I would sure appreciate it, because we want our family 198 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: to be all together. So we'll miss our son and 199 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 2: we'll miss his family this holiday season. But we celebrated 200 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 2: early so that we could be flexible because we knew 201 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 2: that our son, since he had this great opportunity to 202 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 2: go and have an extended stay, that he needed to 203 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 2: do that. So my husband and I decided, hey, we 204 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 2: are going to have a great day with my family. 205 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 2: My parents are coming over, and we decided this year 206 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 2: that we are going to make a theme for our dinner, 207 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 2: and our theme is Christmas around the World. So since 208 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 2: our daughter in love is from Brazil, we decided we're 209 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 2: going to make one Brazilian dish. My parents really don't 210 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 2: feel like it's a holiday unless there's a honey baked 211 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 2: ham involved, So I'm going to get a small honey 212 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 2: baked ham. We're going to do a Brazilian potato salad, 213 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 2: We're going to have some Tamali's. We're just calling it 214 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 2: Christmas around the world. So this season will be different, 215 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 2: for sure, And these changes feel different and may be uncomfortable. 216 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 2: And perhaps as you look at your life and your 217 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 2: family and this Christmas, you may feel the same. Man, 218 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 2: these changes are really difficult or really challenging. While the 219 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 2: changes may be unfamiliar, they don't have to rob the 220 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 2: season of its true meaning because the true heart of 221 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 2: Christmas remains the same. It's unchanged. Christ has come, and 222 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 2: this unwrapping grace and the flexibility that we're talking about 223 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 2: it can become a way of loving others as Christ 224 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 2: loved us. Flexibility recognizes that everyone around us family friends, 225 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 2: extended family, like the ants, the uncles, the cousins. That 226 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 2: flexibility recognizes that each person carries their own responsibilities, their 227 00:16:53,840 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 2: own challenges, their own hopes. So when we adjust tradition, 228 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 2: or change a plan or even try something new, we 229 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 2: communicate grace, we say in essence to our family or 230 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 2: friends or whoever it is you matter more to me 231 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 2: than my expectations. And so for example, I talked about 232 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 2: my adult son. What we were saying to him is 233 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 2: you matter more to us than anything, and we're still 234 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 2: going to celebrate the reason for the season, but he 235 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 2: matters more to us than the way that I had 236 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 2: it all planned out. And of course, if things were different, 237 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 2: I would love for him and his wife and daughter 238 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 2: to be here for the Christmas celebration. But I wanted 239 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 2: him to feel no guilt about any of that. I 240 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 2: wanted him to know that he is much more important 241 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 2: than my plans and that of his employer. Just letting 242 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 2: him go for this extended time is such a blessing. 243 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 2: We celebrated early he got out. We did FaceTime with 244 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 2: his wife and daughter. They saw him open the presence 245 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 2: that we got and then they'll get to open the 246 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 2: presence that we got them when he's there during the 247 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 2: Christmas season. But we wanted to say to him, no guilt, 248 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 2: you matter more than our expectations. And you know, you 249 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:25,439 Speaker 2: may have a situation like this in your life. Maybe 250 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 2: not an immigration or a different country situation, but you 251 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 2: may have a daughter in law who wants to spend 252 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 2: Christmas with her family, and maybe they live far away 253 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 2: so they don't really get to do that with you. 254 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 2: You've got to instead mail the gifts or however that goes. 255 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 2: But when you extend grace, when you're flexible, you say 256 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 2: to that daughter in law or whoever it is, you 257 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 2: matter more to me than my expectations. I know that 258 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 2: you've got your own responsibilities, your own challenges, and I 259 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,880 Speaker 2: respect that we could be together or wish we could 260 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 2: celebrate on Christmas Day, but whatever, we're in this together 261 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 2: and we are going to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, 262 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 2: which of course is Jesus Christ. The kind of love 263 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 2: that we display when we're flexible reflects Jesus right. He's gentle, understanding, 264 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 2: others centered. And those gestures of flexibility often become the 265 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 2: memories that linger the longest. And if we think about it, 266 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 2: many of our most cherished holiday memories didn't unfold perfectly. Instead, 267 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 2: they were shaped in the moments when life forced us 268 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 2: to improvise. Maybe it's the year that dinner burned and 269 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 2: everyone spread a picnic blanket on the living room floor 270 00:19:56,280 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 2: and ate Christmas Dinner that way. I know one year 271 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 2: and my family, my mom and Dad were tasked with 272 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 2: bringing the turkey for Thanksgiving to my sister's house. And 273 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 2: it was like a three and a half hour ride. 274 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 2: It was several years ago. And my brother kept looking 275 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 2: in the roaster as they're driving, and he kept saying, 276 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 2: there's no turkey here, and they're like, of course, the 277 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 2: turkey's in there, donnie, we put it in there. Well, 278 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,640 Speaker 2: when they arrived at my sister's house, my brother had 279 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 2: been right. They did bake a turkey and it was 280 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:35,639 Speaker 2: ready to go. And what they were supposed to do 281 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 2: was put that turkey in the roaster so that it 282 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 2: could make it all the way to my sister's house. 283 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 2: But actually they took an empty roaster to my sister's 284 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 2: house and so there was no turkey for Thanksgiving. Talk 285 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 2: about a plan gone awrye. But what we did is 286 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 2: my parents, you know, we go to the store. Is 287 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,199 Speaker 2: not a lot of picking's not a lot of stores 288 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 2: necessarily all about Thanksgiving. We found one canned ham. We 289 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 2: got that, we opened that canned ham, we served it 290 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 2: and we had a great time. It's a memory I'll 291 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 2: hold forever because it was unexpected. Yet it's a fond memory. 292 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 2: And if you'll stay flexible, you will create those fond 293 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 2: memories as well. Maybe one year the power went out 294 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 2: on Christmas and the family played games by candlelight, or 295 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:34,400 Speaker 2: the Christmas when illness may be or distance left everyone 296 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 2: connecting through video calls and laughing more than expected. Those 297 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 2: imperfect memories often become the sacred ones, reminding us that 298 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 2: God's joy isn't fragile. He invites us to welcome new 299 00:21:53,480 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 2: expressions of grace. Most importantly, flexibility helps us on how 300 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 2: God shapes the meeting of the Holidays. This is true 301 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:11,920 Speaker 2: throughout our lives. What once felt magical in childhood may 302 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:16,479 Speaker 2: in adulthood become a season of gratitude, a season of 303 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:21,479 Speaker 2: gratitude for time with aging parents, or a season of 304 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 2: wonder as we see Christmas through the eyes of our children, 305 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:31,360 Speaker 2: or Christmas through the eyes of our grandchildren. As our 306 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 2: lives change, and as season change, seasons change, Christ remains 307 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:40,959 Speaker 2: the same and he invites us to welcome his grace, 308 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 2: new expressions of his grace. Ultimately, the holidays are about 309 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 2: celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Savior, who stepped into 310 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 2: our world with humility, with hope, and also with redeeming love. 311 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 2: Everything else is secondary. When we choose flexibility, we make 312 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 2: room for Christ to lead our hearts, our homes, and 313 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 2: our celebrations, and in doing so, we keep the true 314 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 2: meaning of Christmas alive. I want to leave you today 315 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 2: on the Hope of the Journey podcast with this one thought. 316 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 2: It's a saying that came to my attention some years ago, 317 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 2: and it is this, Blessed are the flexible, for they 318 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:38,920 Speaker 2: shall not break, especially when their hope is anchored in Christ. 319 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 2: So I hope that you and yours just enjoy the 320 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 2: best holiday season ever. That you will remain flexible and 321 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 2: respond to changes with grace and love, and that the 322 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,440 Speaker 2: end result of all of that is that you are 323 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:59,919 Speaker 2: able to focus on Christ and connect with others in 324 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,920 Speaker 2: your family to love them freely even when things don't 325 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 2: go as planned. So I've got some Christmas tips up 326 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 2: on the website. I'll put all of that in the 327 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 2: show notes for today's giveaway, and I will see you 328 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:17,919 Speaker 2: again next week with more on the holiday edition of 329 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:19,880 Speaker 2: Hope for the Journey.