My best Christmas was ironically my saddest. This took place ten years ago.

I remembered being overly enthusiastic about inviting my close group of friends to the Christmas service.

After inviting most of them, my final list had at least 20 of them. However, on the actual day none of them showed up. Not one.

I was utterly disappointed and devastated. During that Christmas service, I wept.

But right there, God revealed His heart to me. I was also feeling His disappointment and devastation. And I got a glimpse of His amazing love for us.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

John 1:10-11

Despite our hostility and shortcomings, God never condemns us nor does He gives up on us. He just keeps on loving us into His kingdom. 

I also understood better that the rejection that I faced was not directed at me, but at Jesus (c.f. Matthew 10:40). And like Jesus, I should keep on loving with no strings attached.

That Christmas, it was my best because God aligned my heart with His. That’s what made it special and memorable.

God is love.