Illuminated by Hope

There is something sacred about the quiet before the day truly begins. Before the laughter. Before the wrapping paper tornado. Before the smells of cinnamon and coffee and breakfast casseroles fill the air. Long before the first “Merry Christmas!” floats through the hallway, a stillness rests like a soft blanket over the house.

Every Christmas morning, I tiptoe down the stairs and pause on the last step. The house is still perfectly dark, except for the soft glow of the Christmas tree illuminating the bay window area in my living room. Its light spills gently across the floor, just enough for me to find my footing without turning on a single switch. For a moment, time slows.

In that quiet glow, I take a breath. I whisper a thank-you. I feel the nudge of gratitude reminding me of all God has carried me through. And before the day rushes in — with noise, love, chaos, and celebration — I let myself be present in the stillness. I make my cup of coffee without waking anyone. I enjoy those first few sips and let the warmth seep into the cold edges of morning. I let the tree light illuminate not just my path…but my heart.

The tree in the bay window isn’t just decoration. On Christmas morning, it is my reminder. We don’t need a floodlight to see or to know the way — sometimes the smallest light is enough. Sometimes the quiet glow is what we need most. Sometimes the gentlest light in the darkness points us back to the One who came to be our Light forever. Romans 15:13 in The Voice translation offers this beautiful prayer: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Isn’t that exactly what Christmas is?

• Hope entering the world.

• Joy becoming flesh.

• Peace wrapped in swaddling cloths.

On the holiest morning, God’s Son arrived quietly — not with fanfare or fireworks — but with the soft glow of a star. A newborn cry. A manger. A miracle. The King of Kings came not to overwhelm, but to illuminate. Not to shout, but to shine.

When I stand in the faint glow of the tree, I’m reminded of that first Light that came into our darkness. Christ entered the world as Hope incarnate. Not because the world had earned it. Not because we were ready. But because God loved us too much to leave us in the dark. And just as the tree lights guide my steps in the quiet morning, His Light guides my soul through every season — the joyful ones, the tender ones, and the ones that require a deeper breath before moving forward. When worry feels heavy. When the unknown sits on my chest. When the season feels more chaotic than calm. He still illuminates. He still leads. He still infuses.

Paul prays that hope would overflow — not trickle, not barely drip — but overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit. On Christmas morning, that word overflows comes alive. Because when Jesus came, hope overflowed into the brokenness of the world. When the angels sang, joy overflowed into the night sky. When Mary held her baby, peace overflowed into her heart. When the shepherds bowed, worship overflowed from the ordinary fields into holy ground. We don’t need to earn it. We only need to receive it.

So today, as you enter your Christmas morning — whether it’s quiet or chaotic, filled with loved ones or layered with grief, bursting with excitement or beautifully simple — may the Light of Christ illuminate your heart the same way that soft glow in the bay window illuminates my path.

Let Him guide you gently. Let Him infuse you abundantly. Let Him fill your soul with peace that doesn’t depend on circumstances. Let Him overflow hope over every place that feels tired or tender. And as the day unfolds — with all its joy, celebration, and sacred moments — may you be reminded that the Light still shines. The Hope is still here. The Savior has come.

Christmas Thought 🎄: How are you celebrating Christmas today? Whether your day includes quiet moments, joyful gatherings, or something in between, I pray you’re experiencing the joy, hope, and peace of this beautiful holiday.

Merry Christmas, friends. May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace today and always,

Debbie Oliver🌟