Christmas. Christmas is such a powerful time. There's caroling, cookies, excitement, presents, joy, good food... everything. Christmas has it all. Everyone has strong memories linked to Christmas, and whether it is positive or negative, Christmas is huge.

The traditional Christmas has presents, a tree, good food, family, laughter, joy, and depending on your background, Jesus or Santa. (And in some cases, both Jesus and Santa). But to me, Christmas is not about any of this. Christmas is about presence.

Christmas is about Jesus coming down to earth to be with us. It is about Jesus coming to be present with us in whatever we experience. Whether your year has been good or bad, or some combination of the two, Jesus is present. Jesus is here. He knows.

The past six months have been very difficult for me. There were moments where my faith was tested and moments where I was pushed to what I thought my limits were, and in some cases, past that. Fall semester was one that forced me to grow, in ways that I did not even know I needed to. And so, coming into Christmas, I have not been fully in "The Christmas Spirit." I have not had the desire to go caroling, I have not wanted to make Christmas cookies, and I have not had the warm fuzzy feelings that are supposed to come with Christmas.

But that's okay. Because Jesus didn't just come to bring happiness and joy. Jesus came to be present with us. He came to sit with us through the hard times and through the good times.

To me, the most amazing thing about Jesus's ministry on earth is that He came and sat and was present for 30 years. For three decades, Jesus sat and got to know us and understand humanity where we are at. There is a valuable lesson in this. In so much of life, we are eager to solve problems and move on from pain. But this is not what Jesus did. Sometimes sitting and being present in an issue or a pain is enough.

And He is still present. Jesus still knows where you're at and where I'm at. Jesus is here and he is love. And so, in everything that we are, Jesus' presence is enough. And so I don't need to be everything I want to be, because Jesus is here. Jesus is with me and Jesus loves.

So while this Christmas season is truly at its peak today, I can enjoy it, no matter where I'm at. Despite the hard semester I've just been through, Jesus is truly present and brings true joy. And that makes it okay. He is here and He is present to understand and to bring love and healing. And with that in mind, I can truly say "Merry Christmas."