Walking down the streets, walking through the mall, driving down the road,

There seems to be some holly jolly cheer everywhere you go

Music singing, lights twinkling, smiles everywhere

So what happens when your heart doesn’t feel so Christmas-y at all?

Maybe you feel alone, with a family far away

Maybe you wish you had a special someone to share that mistletoe

Maybe your house is empty, no gifts, with no lights on the tree

Maybe your heart feels squeezed, your eyes brimmed with tears

Maybe this Christmas doesn’t come with a smile

Maybe this Christmas doesn’t feel so “Christmas-y” at all

Child me always chased after Christmas delights

The tree, the decorations, the presents, the lights

The carols, the cookies, the feast, & the joys

The hot cocoa, the candlelit service, the shopping, & cards

So many things to make Christmas feel like Christmas in my heart

But then, some years, I struggled to feel it

As if the holly jolly cheer just couldn’t be found

The very merry & bright didn’t feel so very merry at all

And somehow, I felt numbed to the cheerfulness wrapped around every corner

As if some gray haze had somehow settled over all the brightness & colors

Maybe that’s you now & you feel this way, too

Maybe you feel sad & not so much “Christmas-y” at all

Maybe you feel lonely when you want to be with family

Maybe the cheery songs fall flat this Christmas… & all the lights

& the Christmas décor just don’t seem to have that same glow as before

But then, on those Christmases, that do come some years

I think back to that first one that we celebrate at this time of year

It was not colorful, no lights on the trees

No garlands or strung lights, or red, white, & green

No rushing to buy presents & no one decking the halls

There were no parties, Christmas cookies, or Christmas meals to prepare

Just a baby in a manger, swaddled up in the hay

The angels sang, but they sang praises of His worth

The wise men brought presents, but to honor this King’s birth

This Almighty King, wrapped in human flesh

Condescended Himself to birth hope in our hearts

That even though this world may be sin-broken

He came to die so that we may be whole again

This Christmas, remember—you don’t have to feel that holly jolly cheer

Just close your eyes & remember that Jesus is near

Though this world may be broken

And not every day feels so “Christmas-y” & bright

We have hope because Jesus came here to us that night

Merry Christmas to all & may you all know

The hope that we all can have because Jesus was born

Coming Next Week

Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.

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As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)

This blog/website has been running for 6.5 years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3

If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3

Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!

Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Fox Backpack (Guatemala)

DAYS OF HOPE – Limited Edition! Handcrafted in Guatemala, each Fox Backpack is handmade by women earning a fair, dignified wage that allows them to send their children to school. Every 100% cotton Fox Backpack features a drawstring closure and adorable fox face. Every purchase supports women in areas of extreme poverty in Guatemala.

***Purchase this backpack, using the “Shop Here” link below to empower women in Guatemala out of poverty!***

How You Can Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support My Website:

#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!

Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!

Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!