It was a chilly, early spring day, and I had spent the morning at the grocery store with my daughter, who was going to turn one in a few short weeks. My first year of motherhood had been challenging to say the least. Motherhood had not only taken its expected toll on my physical well-being but on my mental health as well. It seemed like the cloudy, gray weather that day perfectly reflected my mood: I was lonely and longing to feel better.
I was unloading the groceries from the back of my car when I heard a familiar voice shout, “Heyyy!” Surprised, I turned around to see my sister, who lives 90 minutes away, walking toward me.
She told me brightly, “I had the day off so I thought I would come over, and we could hang out!” She played off her appearance as if it was spontaneous, but I knew that her presence at my house was an intentional gift. She appeared because she loved me, and she wanted to take away a little part of my loneliness. And it worked: Her presence dignified my suffering and made me feel seen, known and loved in a real and healing way.
I am hoping that this story sparks a memory for you of a time when you received the gift of someone’s presence. Take a moment to think about it now. Close your eyes if you have to. Has there ever been a time when someone you love literally showed up — in the school office, on the side of the road, at the funeral — and stayed with you until things got a little bit better? How did it make you feel just to know they were there?
Long ago in Bethlehem, Jesus gave us the gift of his presence. As a baby, Jesus couldn’t do much for us; it would be years before he could teach us or heal us. But on that holy night, he showed up and showed us that we are worth all the trouble it took to make us and save us. He wouldn’t have come to be with us if it wasn’t all true.
Jesus is present in today’s weary world, too. He longs to make his presence known to you, to reveal your worthiness to you and to walk alongside you on the gray, cloudy days and the calm, clear nights.
As we prepare to celebrate his birth this year, may we see with new eyes Jesus’ presence in our lives, and then extend this gift to others by being present to them in a way that dignifies and uplifts them with love and joy.
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