I was reading John Eldredge's December letter and some of the things he said really stood out to me. Here they are:

"Love is the greatest need of any human soul. Which is hey our deepest wounds have t do with love in one form or another. And when a person knows, really knows they are loved, they interpret life so completely differently from the person who doesn't know they are loved. And it is the love of GOD, above every other joy, that heals our hearts and sets us free. To love. Which is the purpose of our existence."

"So let me simply say this - Christmas is an annual reminder of the expansive depth and generosity of GOD's love for you. For you."

"Life seems to rail against this truth (that GOD loves us, explanation mine). We are, all of us, hit with a thousand reasons to doubt GOD's heart toward us. I'm speaking of the pain and disappointment of any life. And on top of all that, there is the enemy, who loves to twist the knife of our heartaches, all the while whispering, You cannot trust GOD's heart. You are forgotten. Forsaken. You are not loved. But no. NO! The Father sent Jesus. That can never be undone. It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are loved. More than you yet know."

"So, let this be your unceasing prayer this Christmas. Just hold onto this one thought, whenever and wherever you go this month: I am loved. When you see a Christmas tree, think to yourself, I am loved. That's what this is all about. When you hear a Christmas song (how can you avoid them?), when you buy a present for someone, and when you receive a gift of any kind from someone else, when you see a wreath or a poinsettia or a manger scene, say to yourself, I am loved. That's what this is all about."

Have a lovely Christmas!