One of our favorite Christmas traditions is hearing and singing Christmas carols.  There is something
comforting about the familiarity of the carols and how we are still singing the same songs that we sang
as children. My absolute favorite Christmas carol is “O Holy Night.”  I’m not sure why, but I love to sing
it—especially on Christmas Eve.  One line in the song says, “a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.”
As I listen to the news this evening with its political polarization, mass shootings and unrest in the world,
I am reminded that we indeed are a weary world in need of hope!

A “weary world” is a good description of today; but what about a weary family or a weary parent?  Does
that sound familiar?  Perhaps you are in need of some hope as well.  Christmas can be a stressful time for
families with a child with special needs.  Extended family gatherings, changes in routine and the added
stress of Christmas can be difficult for our children.  I personally struggle with the fact that the gifts for
Mary don’t go through a developmental progression like they do for other children.  (I’m buying her
many of the same gifts I bought her at 34 that I bought her at 10).  Christmas can be a time when the
gap between Christmas expectations and Christmas reality can loom large.  But sometimes, we have to
remind ourselves that Christmas isn’t about the traveling, gift buying or perfect decorations. It is about
God loving us enough to send his son to earth as a baby to provide a way to spend eternity with Him — in
a place with no disabilities!

Christmas is about hope … and in that the weary world (and weary parents) can rejoice!

Merry Christmas!