I have many fond Christmas memories, but one year in particular stands out to me. I was a sophomore in college and living in the international housing on campus, though my roommate was also from Arizona. We had a mutual friend, but we didn’t really know each other beyond that when the year began. But the one short semester we lived together feels much longer than that, in a good way. 

That was a hard growing season for me. I had decided I needed to branch out and meet people because my first year was super lonely. This was partly why I signed up for the apartment I did—I wanted to meet new people, and I had a heart for helping international students feel welcome. I’d also taken on a volunteer internship with my church that honestly felt like a part time job. The other interns and I went to some office hours during the week, helped the paid staff with tasks, attended church events, volunteered in various ministries, and were there early every Sunday to set up the church since we met in rented spaces. Adding to the mix a brand new friend group of other Christians, my full-time course load, responsibilities with the international students, and swing-dancing on the weekends, I was pretty busy.

Yet despite all the activity in my life, I was still lonely. I was confident in God’s plan for me to pursue ministry that year in any way I could. Being an overseas missionary was (and still is) a long term dream of mine, but I knew I was called to finish out my college education first. As I interacted with more people my age, I started feeling the weight of my season of singleness. But that didn’t make sense. I was content with God’s plan for my life. So why was I restless?

My roommate was also a believer, and we sat up too many nights to count, talking about anything and everything. Though she was even busier than I was, we somehow made the time to be there for each other. Our conversations ranged from politics to book ideas to deep talks about the state of our hearts. Maybe she was in a similar season as me. I think God put us together to grow alongside each other like some plants do, sharing nutrients and giving each other the push to sprout when the time is right.

That year, we had a terrible snowstorm the week of Thanksgiving, leaving everything white and merry leading up to Christmas. Even though my roommate and I were both going home for the break, she insisted we get a tree for our apartment and decorate it. Though I was looking forward to going home for the holidays, I found myself appreciating the place I was planted. 

I’ll never forget one night when I came home late to find every surface—and I do mean every surface—in our main area covered with cookies. It was like walking into a movie scene—my roommate, who was an excellent cook, pulled a pan out of the oven while more desserts than I could count cooled around the room. That night was the first of many baking adventures involving my roommate creating her Christmas gifts for professors, friends, and random strangers she met in the student union.

My roommate never seemed to stop giving, even when she didn’t get a word of thanks in return.

Isn’t that such a beautiful picture of the real reason for Christmas? Jesus never stopped giving of himself, even when he was bone-weary from ministry. And when it seemed he had nothing else left to give, he gave his own life so that we—thankless sinners—could be right with God.

As wonderful as spending time with family, giving gifts, and yearly traditions are, those things can sometimes shroud the truth of our humanity—we are sinners, desperate for grace. That’s why God didn’t send us an economist, entertainer, or educator. He sent a Savior, for the deepest need of every man’s heart is for salvation.

Sometimes we find ourselves hanging onto the cheer and sparkle of the Christmas lights, that warm cozy feeling of home. But those feelings will fade, as will the fleeting happiness they bring. Soon all things turn to darkness, for we live in a fallen world. The only way to find true joy is through the Son who came to earth to dwell among us. 

For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

    and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

Jesus Christ is the light in the darkness. Emmanuel, God with us.

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