The advent clock is ticking down to the final days and hours before the arrival of Christmas. Just about everywhere I go people are asking if I am ready for Christmas and I give them a resounding “Yes!” Of course I am the type of person who is always ready for the Christmas season and the meaning behind it.

  While I long to live in the world of Christmas movies where every problem, every bout of depression and anything else that can go wrong is solved, there is no way that will ever happen. Instead I live in a world where I get tired and am not able to accomplish all I desire. It is a world in which people who are dear to me are hurting and there is nothing I can do to change the situation. It’s a world full of corruption, false hope, and Scrooges who are trying to take the joy out of Christmas.

  The world Jesus arrived in was much the same way. There was the evil emperor of Rome who wanted to flaunt his power by decreeing a census be taken. I am sure Joseph and Mary weren’t the only ones searching for a place out of the cold that night. There were probably mothers throughout the town of Bethlehem who were weeping because their children were going to bed hungry, if they even had a bed or a roof over their heads.  It is much like the world that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in his poem turned song, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." After much tragedy in his life, he penned these words: “In despair I bowed my head. 'There is no peace on earth,’ I said … then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men.'"

 Throughout the ages Satan ran rampant all over the world, but his time is coming to an end. God is still in charge and will triumph with the arrival of true peace on Earth. As Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.

   When the shepherds arrived to see the new king, Jesus was resting secure, wrapped tightly with his earthly mother nearby and his heavenly father watching from above. You too can rest secure this Christmas knowing that Jesus and his father are watching over you. This Christmas my wish for others is for that inner peace that will see you through the most difficult times. As Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.

Debra Whittington is a longtime resident of Tucumcari. Contact her at: dawhittington@msn.com