This is the most special time of year. I cherish every chance to see holiness. It is everywhere I turn and like the beautiful Christmas trees that I have seen -it branches widely and graciously from the bottom up as well as from the shining star at the top!
Today I returned from a warm gathering of friends, each who described a family Christmas tradition that was most treasured over the years. Later, the theme of “Belonging” came to my heart. This was a new thought for me. I did not have a family near for many years and though I have had many solitary Christmas eves both because of travel and circumstances, I had no common traditions with my friends. Family did not arrive, there was no festivity nor the delight of a home to decorate though I do have wonderful memories.
I reached into the far into the past to offer a tradition from childhood. I think that I jumped 60 years back from the fear of speaking about now and looking like I did not “belong”. I ending up rambling on and on like a lost child. (an orphan vs heir?)
Later that afternoon I was stirred by the word “Belonging” in my heart by Spirit. I knew that I needed to deepen my “family relationship” with Lord Jesus. This was the real hope and joy of all Christmas tradition. If a tradition is a long established custom, then from my own earliest childhood prayers, I desired to know Jesus. Any action that followed that would be the custom. Whoever I was with formed my understanding of belonging.
Now that I am mature, I can re-form and return all of my longings to be with Christ. To me, that is one way of Be-longing to Him. I reach with joy to His Love; it is not far off, it is here.
I am hoping that share this experience with others might offer hope and encouragement especially if as you approach Christmas, you find yourself far from home or desiring to be home, in a distant place, in a season of your life when you are alone or perhaps desiring to create a special reason for coming together to celebrate.
We have every hope to live in Faith, to celebrate, for The Son of God is born in a miraculous and Holy way.
We Belong to God, who formed us with Love, sees us each in every moment of our lives; is so near that He feels each breath before it touches the air. Belonging to him also means that He has redeemed me. I am in His Family. The relentless love that pours upon me is designed to outpour as my cup overflows. His Grace and Mercy moves through us and amongst us. It increases the belonging of The Family of God.
© 2017 Linda Willows
Isaiah 43:1
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!
He has called us all by name. We all belong to Him!
I found this article about “Belonging” and enjoy sharing it:
“Belonging”
© 2012 Mark D. Roberts
Psalm 100:3 reminds us that we belong to God. The Common English Bible states: “Know that the LORD is God—he made us; we belong to him.” The Hebrew original of the last phrase can be literally translated, “we are his.” The next part of the verse reinforces this truth by adding, “We are his people, the sheep of his own pasture.” Thus, we belong to God because he made us to be his very own people. He continues to watch over us as our good shepherd.
What difference does it make that we belong to God? This simple truth can transform our lives. It can give us profound reassurance of our self-worth. We matter because we belong to the Creator of the universe. The fact that we belong to God also gives order to our lives. We are first and foremost God’s people. Thus, all of our other roles in life must be seen in the light of this primary reality. You may be a lawyer or manager or teacher, but you are first of all one of God’s people. You may be a father or a mother or a friend, but you are first of all one of God’s people. How you live in each of these other roles will be shaped by your primary relationship to God as someone who belongs to him.
Sometimes, when life is hard, or when we’ve turned away from God for an extended season, we can wonder if we still belong to him. The good news of the Gospel is that nothing can ultimately keep us away from God and his love. As it says in Romans 8:38-39, “I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.” This means that nothing, NOTHING, can erase the fact that you belong to God through Jesus Christ. What great news!
The BELOVED 