Making Room: Beyond the Season

Hey friends,

I hope we all had a beautiful Christmas season.

Christmas invites us into remembrance, of what God did for us. And whether we realize it or not, during Christmas we often begin to reflect the character of Christ.

When we think about Christmas, what usually comes to mind?

Gathering.

Giving gifts.

Forgiveness.

Reconciliation.

Generosity.

Compassion.

We open our homes.

We open our hearts.

We think of those who are suffering.

We give to those in need.

Some go out to serve, to distribute food, to offer warmth and love.

We give people something precious, our presence.

And all of this is good. 

Then comes this in-between moment. The space between Christmas and New Year.

Some of us are working, some aren’t.

We’re still holding on to the warmth, the slowness, the magic.

We continue gathering.

We continue opening our doors.

We continue practicing hospitality.

We spend time with family.

We try to take care of ourselves.

And again, without naming it, we are living out the character of Christ.

But then life resumes, and routine takes over. Somewhere around mid-January…the Christmas spirit fades.

No time for generosity or  hospitality.

Less compassion &  forgiveness.

We get busy doing what needs to be done.

And on this eve of 2026, I find myself asking,  and inviting you to reflect with me:

What if we made room for the real meaning of Christmas all year round?

What difference would that make?

In our families?

In our communities?

In our own hearts?

I don’t mean constant hosting.

Or endless giving.

Or living exhausted.

I mean making room for what matters.

Compassion matters.

Generosity matters.

Forgiveness matters.

Rest matters.

Presence matters.

There is a time to open our homes.

A time to reach out to those in need.

A time to be with family.

And a time to take care of ourselves, because if we don’t, no one else will.

And when we make room for more of God in our lives,

we begin to find time for these things.

Maybe that’s why we don’t even know the exact date of Jesus’ birth.

Because Christmas was never meant to be remembered once a year, but lived.

So today, I invite you, and myself, to make room.

Not just in December.

But every day.

With love,

Emmanuella