I did just what I promised last week and waded through this year’s Five Minute Friday posts to pick out YOUR favorite. Ironically, while not Christmasy, it was relevant to the season. This week we celebrate Christ’s birth. YOUR favorite of my posts was the other end of Christ’s life … His death and resurrection. It was written March 25 — Good Friday.

The prompt that week courtesy of Kate Motaung (http://katemotaung.com/2016/03/24/five-minute-friday-alive/) was ALIVE. I had set the timer, let my fingers do the pecking and contributed this post to the 100-plus strong writing flash mob known as Five Minute Friday. Do stop by and see what these incredible {mostly} women share.

It’s time to GO …

It’s good to be alive.

Truth is, we don’t always feel alive. We’re often burdened, tired, beat down. We go through the motions, but the heart and soul just don’ exude the passion for life.

We’ve all been there. I’ve been there. And it’s not just after a loss or a setback. Life sometimes can suck the — well — life out of life.

I know that’s especially true after the loss of a longtime spouse, parents, siblings or close friend. What’s the point of going on? The hole in your heart is pretty big. Been there. Done that.

It’s good for us to remember on this Good Friday there was a band of disciples who had their lives turned upside-down as well. They were scared. They were numb. They went into hiding … fully expecting those who crucified their Leader could very well be after them next.

And I think their faith may have been shattered as well — or at least … STOP

… whatever faith they had. They believed in Jesus. He was not only their friend and confidant, He was the expected Messiah … the Deliverer from bondage … the Healer.

I don’t think they fully understood all that. I think they were looking on a human plane and didn’t grasp the words and teachings of Jesus until later.

For now, they watched Him beaten, battered and crucified — a very ugly way to die. The religious leaders of the day — through the Romans — didn’t just want to condemn Jesus. They wanted to make an example of Him. They wanted to quell this insurrection once and for all, small as it was.

Those disciples had every reason to be afraid. Those disciples had every reason to retreat. Their faith in Jesus was tested and challenged.

That all changed a few days later when the women went to anoint the body, only to find it was gone. And as Jesus started to appear to them, their eyes were opened. Their minds were opened. Jesus’ teaching suddenly made sense. He was speaking on a different plane. He was talking about spiritual deliverance.

He’s alive! And because He’s alive, I can face tomorrow … and the next day … and the next day until I become alive with Him, not in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense.

One of my favorite Christian songs is Because He Lives. Another is He’s Alive. And in keeping with the theme of this week’s prompt, I’ll share Dolly Parton’s rendition of He’s Alive.

It is what gets me through the dark days.

And so, as we remember and celebrate the birth of our Savior, let’s also remember and celebrate the reason why He came.

May all have a Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy, Holy New Year!

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree.