Wednesday, December 18, 2024
“Expect A White Christmas”
Is anyone dreaming of a White Christmas? The official definition of a White Christmas is that your location must have at least 1 inch of snow (or ice) on the ground at 7 am local time on Christmas Day. A dusting of snow won’t do it. Snow later in the day won’t do it either.
In 2023, only 17.6% of the United States enjoyed a White Christmas. However, in 2022, 53% of the country experienced a White Christmas, which represented the highest percentage since they’ve been keeping up with the statistics. In 2024, current predictions are that less than 10% of the United States will receive a White Christmas. So, if the weather professionals are correct, quit wishing for it. It ain’t gonna happen.
There are probably lots of people who wish that their Christmas would not be White. Those who have extreme winter weather seasons might wish for a green, tropical Christmas like the one we experience on the island. I think those dreams, whether it’s for a White or Green Christmas, are beautiful. I also think they can be helpful, in that those dreams and wishes can sometimes provide us with a little glimmer of hope when we need it.
But realistically, most of us will experience a Christmas that’s in between White and Green, with little fanfare and nothing interesting. That’s okay. Whatever our climate is on Christmas, God can still do magical, wonderful, and miraculous things. Our climate, which could also include our current station in life (health, relationship status, economic struggle, etc.) does not have to dictate our Christmas. God is bigger than all of those things and God has not forgotten about any of us.
In this last week leading to Christmas, consider focusing on what CAN happen. Our dreams of a White Christmas are fine if that’s what we need to pull us through, but God CAN do a whole lot more than we give Him credit for, and certainly more than a White Christmas. A friend recently told me that they have changed their prayers to what they EXPECT God to do. I know that could be dangerous, but it sure seems like it is also super-faithful.
“You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (Matthew 21:22, NLT)