THE JOYFUL LIFE
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • HEART
      • Faith
      • Bible Study & Theology
      • Marriage
      • Motherhood
        • Motherhood (ALL)
        • Parenting Toddlers to Tweens
        • Parenting Teens
        • Parenting Adult Children
        • Raising Boys
        • Raising Girls
      • Divorce | Single Motherhood | Blended Families
      • Adoption & Foster Care
      • Infertility & Miscarriage
      • Friendship & Community
    • HOME
      • DIY Projects
      • Family & Home Management
      • Fun for Kids
      • Homemaking
      • Homeschool
      • Hospitality
      • Recipes
    • LIFE ISSUES
      • Anxiety
      • Difficult Family Dynamics
      • Emotions
      • Health
      • Identity & Purpose
      • Loss | Suffering | Grief
      • Work & Life Balance
    • REVIEWS
      • App Reviews
      • Book Reviews
      • Product Reviews
    • FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • SEASONAL & HOLIDAY
  • Daily Devotions
  • About
    • Meet the Team
      • Management & Staff
      • Editorial Team
      • Blog Contributors
      • Devotion Writers
      • Photographers
    • Statement of Faith
  • Work with Us
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise
    • Employment
  • Contact
  • account
The Joyful Life News
Sign up to receive Joyful Life Community news, weekly blog post updates, shop announcements, and more.
A QUARTERLY COLLECTIBLE | Heart & Home Inspiration
THE JOYFUL LIFE
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • HEART
      • Faith
      • Bible Study & Theology
      • Marriage
      • Motherhood
        • Motherhood (ALL)
        • Parenting Toddlers to Tweens
        • Parenting Teens
        • Parenting Adult Children
        • Raising Boys
        • Raising Girls
      • Divorce | Single Motherhood | Blended Families
      • Adoption & Foster Care
      • Infertility & Miscarriage
      • Friendship & Community
    • HOME
      • DIY Projects
      • Family & Home Management
      • Fun for Kids
      • Homemaking
      • Homeschool
      • Hospitality
      • Recipes
    • LIFE ISSUES
      • Anxiety
      • Difficult Family Dynamics
      • Emotions
      • Health
      • Identity & Purpose
      • Loss | Suffering | Grief
      • Work & Life Balance
    • REVIEWS
      • App Reviews
      • Book Reviews
      • Product Reviews
    • FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • SEASONAL & HOLIDAY
  • Daily Devotions
  • About
    • Meet the Team
      • Management & Staff
      • Editorial Team
      • Blog Contributors
      • Devotion Writers
      • Photographers
    • Statement of Faith
  • Work with Us
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise
    • Employment
  • Contact
  • account
0

What Matters Most

  • Nicole O'Meara
  • December 19, 2022
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

I missed Christmas last year. It’s a holiday steeped in long-lasting family traditions, but those traditions didn’t happen. Instead, I spent the holiday in a hospital bed while my children woke up on Christmas morning in a friend’s home, joining in their Christmas traditions.

And that’s okay.

I am prone to placing too much importance in traditions. But I am learning to pare things down and focus on what matters most. The truth is that my kids still slept in warm beds and their sleepy-eyed, pajama-covered bodies were still smothered in love as they opened the presents I bought for them. The things that mattered most still happened even if they happened in ways I didn’t plan for.

The Jews had a lot of traditions and beliefs about what the Messiah would look like and do when He finally arrived. Jesus didn’t fulfill those, but he did do what mattered most: healing the sick and lame, feeding the hungry, and forgiving sins. He died on the cross and arose to conquer death so we could live forever. He fulfilled every prophecy. If only the Jews had focused more on those than on their own traditions.

The Trinity planned the Messiah’s coming and foretold every detail in Scripture. Then Jesus came and fulfilled every prophecy perfectly. Still, when Jesus took control of the wind and waves, displaying His deity before His closest disciples, even they missed it. “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him” (Matthew 8:27)! They missed the most important truth—that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.

I love traditions, but I never want my traditions to cause me to miss what matters most. The presence of God and His love for people will always trump wrapping paper, bows, and even my presence on a special day. God was present at Christmas last year. My children were loved. He was glorified both in our friend’s home and in my hospital room. That’s what matters most.

0
0
0
0
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
Nicole O'Meara

Nicole O’Meara writes for Christian women living with rare and chronic diseases, encouraging them to endure with hope. She is a lover of coffee, chocolate and books. She lives in Northern California with her three children, two brought home through adoption, her coffee-roasting husband, and one sweet Aussiedoodle. You can find Nicole on Instagram, on Facebook, and on her blog.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TRENDING POSTS
  • benefits of memorizing scripture 1
    Benefits of Memorizing Scripture and 5 Easy Methods to Help You Get Started
  • childrens book about family 2
    Leapin’ Leopards Book Review: New Childrens Book About Family Adventure!
VISIT OUR SHOP
  • Enough Study Guide | Digital | The Joyful Life ENOUGH | Digital Bible Study $12.00
  • THE GOOD SHEPHERD | Digital Bible Study $12.00
  • Issue 01 | ABIDE — Digital Version $14.00
Follow Us on Instagram
The Joyful Life News
Sign up to receive Joyful Life Community news, weekly blog post updates, shop announcements, and exclusive offers for our subscribers.

AMAZON AFFILIATE PROGRAM DISCLAIMER | The Joyful Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Every purchase you make through our Amazon affiliate links supports our ministry at no additional cost to you.

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • WRITE FOR US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms
  • ACCOUNT
  • Contact
© 2022 The Joyful Life Co., LLC
Site Design by Maize Agency

Input your search keywords and press Enter.