I love this time of year. Early mornings, when the world is still cloaked in darkness, I rise and turn on the Christmas lights. As I sip my coffee, I can’t help but marvel at the beauty of light shining in the midst of the night. It’s a quiet, peaceful moment. Yet, as much as I love the brightness of the season, Christmas also carries with it a reminder of another kind of darkness—the year I lost my mom.

Christmas can be a challenging time when a loved one is nearing death. My mom knew the Lord and wasn’t afraid to face her own passing, but that doesn’t make the goodbye any easier. Even when we know that death isn’t the end, that those we love will be reunited in Heaven, the reality of loss still stings deeply.

I’m thankful for the years we spent together, especially for the peace we found after working through our past differences. I think about the last time I crawled into her hospital bed, lying beside her with my arm around her. We didn’t need words in that moment. It was a silent night—calm and at peace.

And I found myself reflecting on the night God gave His Son to be born in a humble manger. What must He have felt, knowing that the tiny babe would grow to die on a cross thirty-three years later? Christmas, the celebration of birth, is always tied to the reality of death. For Jesus, the journey from the manger to the cross was inevitable. But that journey was also the plan of salvation, set into motion the moment Jesus entered the world.

The story of Christmas, though, is not one of sorrow. It’s a story of hope. The birth of Jesus was the beginning of a divine plan to save humanity. His death would bring victory over sin, and His resurrection would bring eternal life. The darkness of death would not have the final word.

So, if you find yourself facing the loss of a loved one this season, hold on to that hope. Know that, as your loved one passes from this life to the next, they are being welcomed into the presence of God. And one day, you will be reunited—worshiping together around the throne of the Babe who was the Light of the World.

On that starry night long ago, darkness gave way to light. And that light has never dimmed, no matter how dark the world may seem.

Christmas points us to the greatest gift ever given: God’s own Son, Jesus Christ. This gift is not just for a moment; it’s a gift that keeps on giving, transforming lives. It is always available, always free, and has the power to change us forever.

As you look at the lights on your Christmas tree this year, remember that light shines brightest in the darkest places. The year may have felt especially dark, but the heart of the Christmas story is one of hope. As the hymn “O Holy Night” beautifully says, “O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.” God entered the world in the quiet darkness of that night, and He is the Light of the World. Christmas reminds us that even in our darkest moments, we can trust in the enduring light of Jesus.

This Christmas, let us celebrate with hope, grace, and gratitude, knowing that the true Light has come—and He will never be extinguished.