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 As Chaplain at The Christian Village I interact with a lot of men
and women who are experiencing pain. What is it like for our
residents to live with the pain of arthritis every single day? How
do the family members of our residents cope with that deeper pain
that forms when they see their mom or dad getting older and weaker
and more dependent on others?
When one of our residents passes away, how many realize that our
staff are experiencing real pain as they are confronted with the
reality of death and that this person they provided care to, and
cared for, is gone from their sight?
Pain is part of our reality whether we live in a retirement
community or anywhere else. As long as we experience change, we will
experience loss and grief and pain… that’s just reality.
But once again I want to remind you of that joyful reality that I
mentioned just a few sentences ago: We have a God who is present
with us in our pain, and we have a God who can do something about
our pain.
 Through the incarnation of the Son of God at Christmas, God is WITH
US… He is present with us through the good times and the bad times
and the in-between times. This baby born of Mary, laughs with us and
cries with us, and embraces us and weeps with us, and will not run
away from us, but will be and is present with us through it all.
Jesus will not and has never ran away from your pain. I think we
need to know that. I also think we need to know that God can do
something about our pain and Christmas meets that need too.
This baby grew up and as an adult was nailed to a cross where he
took our pain and brokenness and sinfulness upon Himself. He served
as the complete sacrifice for the sins of the world. Through his
atonement we have assurance that the 'People of God' won’t be in
pain forever… healing has come!
On behalf of The Christian Village and Broadwell Christian Church
and The Edgecombe Family, I wish you a Merry Christmas! Thanks for
being a part of our family.
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