I’m sitting on the couch in front of our beautiful Christmas tree, drinking my morning coffee, feeling blessed and thankful.   This season is my favorite time of year.  I love the lights and decorations, the presents under the tree, the food and pastries, the aroma of cinnamon stick candles, and the sound of my very excited children anticipating Christmas morning.  For me, it’s a joyous season, and one that I look forward to all year long.

I’ve always been a joyful person, and typically can find the silver lining in most clouds.  But, because my life to date has not been hit with any tremendous hardships, I sometimes find myself wondering what would happen if something tragic ever happened to me or my family.  My fear has been that it would knock the joy right out of me. But this year, my heart is filled with a greater understanding about a joy that isn’t based on circumstances.

When my husband was youth pastoring, we had a boy in our youthgroup named Mark who was the model teenager.  He loved God with all his heart, was very athletic, cute, and kind to everyone.  It seemed that every girl in the youth group had a crush on him at some point.  Mark has always been such a positive person, and has grown up in a home where his mom and dad loved God, and served Him with their whole hearts.  Mark embraced God in the same way His parents did. He’s always talked about how blessed he was.  He went to college, graduated, and fell in love.  This summer, he asked his girlfriend’s father for her hand in marriage, and picked out a ring.

Within hours after picking out a ring, Mark went to lifeguard at our church day camp for kids.  He started doing flips off the side of the pool as the kids cheered for him.  But one of his flips went wrong, and his neck hit the concrete.  Mark became paralyzed immediately, and now, six months later is a quadriplegic.

I have been deeply affected by Mark’s accident, and have truly grieved, along with our entire church and Mark’s family, the loss of what he once was.  But what has surprised me more than anything, is that Mark’s heart hasn’t changed one bit.  Though he has grieved his many losses, he continues to be hopeful, optimistic, and full of joy.  I am keenly aware that his joy isn’t natural.  It isn’t one that is based on circumstances.  It is the joy that Christ offers to each of us, and is one that far surpasses what this world has to offer.

We had a party last night, and Mark was here in the midst of the crowd, sitting in his wheelchair in front of our Christmas tree.  He smiled and talked all night.  As people sat next to him to talk, they’d hear Mark enthusiastically talk about his many blessings, and the good things that are happening in his life.  He is still getting married in May to the woman of his dreams, and he says over and over again how thankful he is for his family and friends.  Mark has a very full heart.  His love for the Lord is deep and strong.

So as I look at my Christmas tree, I’m reminded of the image from last night of Mark’s smiling face, sitting in his wheelchair, in front of the presents.  The beautifully wrapped presents under the tree truly pale in comparison to the gift Mark gave last night.  For his unnatural joy revealed a deep relationship with our Lord, whose presence in our lives enables us to experience a joy that isn’t based on circumstances; regardless of how wonderful or difficult they may be.   That joy may appear unnatural, but it’s very real, and is available to us all if we’ll only receive.

This Christmas, consider doing more than giving.  It may be time to receive some of the gifts God has in store for you.