I often think of Christmastime with such joy and thanksgiving, thinking of our Lord being humbly born in a stable and placed in a manger. As a mom I think of Mary holding her Savior and feeling joy, but also the weight of the responsibility she had been given. When they were warned in a dream to flee to Egypt, I am sure Mary shed tears in fear for her Son, our Savior. The Bible mentions the tears of Rachel for those innocent babies that were taken in Herod's wrath. I am sure Mary wept for them as well. (Matthew 2:16-18) I can only imagine our Heavenly Father weeping for those innocents and taking them into His Heavenly arms. Why do I mention this? Yes, Christmas is a wonderful time, a time of reflection on Christ's humble birth and the sacrifice He made for us, and im the midst of it all life still happens. When Job's wife was hurting from the trial they were going through in Job 2:10 Job says, "What shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"...Life still happens during the Christmas season. There are sick kids, rough days, maybe bad news or a loved one passing on. I do not know what you may be going through, whether a deep trial everyone knows about, or maybe a deep quiet battle in your heart. Yes this is a joyous Christmas season, but our comforting loving Savior is still right here for us to carry us through. I do not know why the Lord put this passage and thought on my heart, but maybe it was for you. You CANNOT fake that you are fine with the Lord. He sees and knows your heart, whatever is hurting you, give it to Him. Seek counsel if you need to, seek to be a blessing a blessing to others, but most importantly lean and trust in the Lord. Psalms 23 "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters". It sounds like our Shepherd knows exactly what we need. Better than any gift you can get this Christmas, let the Lord give you peace. Amidst all the hustle and bustle this Christmas time let your Shepherd care for you, let Him give you His peace this Christmas.