“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Don’t you just love the Christmas movies where love prevails? When a cold heart is melted? When a person’s life is changed for the better?
Sometimes all a person needs is one person in the world who cares. In The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, one little girl wormed her way into The Grinch’s heart. He hated Christmas and all the Whos down in Whoville who celebrated it. Christmas triggered a bad memory from his childhood when he was bullied and not accepted for who he was. But little Cindy Lou didn’t want him to be left out, and no matter how mean The Grinch was to her, she kept showing him she cared until finally the walls around his heart came tumbling down and his heart grew three sizes bigger. And peace was restored in Whoville.
Then there’s Jack Frost in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. He tried to take the warmth of love out of Christmas. He wanted it to be about him and his honor, not about love and giving. And again a little child leads, because along comes little Lucy Miller whose heart brims over with love. She hugs Jack Frost, and his cold heart melts and he becomes a better person. And peace was restored at the North Pole.
Even though some Christmas movies are make-believe and don’t speak of how love began with Jesus, there can still be an important message of love in them for our real world. Love changes things. One loving person can make an impact on others.
Sometimes we can get discouraged by all the hate, greed, and violence in this world, but love changes hearts, people, and circumstances. Because love came down at Christmas, peace is possible however impossible it seems.
When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, tragedy both in the nation and in his family shook him to the core of his being. A raging Civil War, a son crippled from war wounds, and his dear wife’s tragic death sunk him into a deep depression. The joyous ringing of Christmas bells seemed to mock his sadness. Hate is so strong. Where is the peace?
And in despair I bowed my head ;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said ;
“For hate is strong
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men !”
Don’t we sometimes feel the same way when troubles and losses abound and when we look at everything that is happening in the world around us?
But God poured His love in, and hope revived in the heart of Longfellow. In the final stanza, he penned:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead ; nor doth He sleep !
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men !”
Even though it may not seem so, love will prevail. Hope is still alive, because love came down at Christmas. Because Jesus came, love is possible in a world of hate, greed, and violence. Love can melt hardened hearts, change lives, and pour healing and peace into broken hearts and a broken world. Love that Jesus brought, love that can never be taken away, love that will be victorious forever.
Love Came Down
by Kim Walker-Smith
Love came down
Hope was found
A star lit the sky
The angels cried glory
Light broke through
The darkest night
Hope is alive
Hope is alive
Cause love came down
Love came down
Freed to Fly 
Hi Trudy … I love how you’ve brought that beautiful 1 Corinthians 13 passage and the Advent season together. For it was God’s great love for us that set this sacred story into motion.
Bless you, girl …
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It’s just so unfathomable what great love He has for us, isn’t it, Linda? Yes, He put this sacred story into motion. Bless you, too! May the truth of what love is truly sink into our hearts and may we be more like Jesus in pouring it out to others!
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Oh Trudy, what a relevant post in this season. Loved the background and lyrics of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. Speaks to me. Again thank you again. Hugs 🤗 to you this Christmas 🎄 💝
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Thank you, Sita. I’m so grateful the background and lyrics of that poem/song speaks to your heart. It speaks to me, too, again and again. When I learned the background some years ago, it grew all the more meaningful. Despair can be so strong sometimes, can’t it? But God is not dead and never sleeps! Such a comfort, isn’t it? Christmas hugs to you, too! May the depth of Jesus’ love for us fill us, chase away the darkness, and heal us ever deeper!
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Thank you, Trudy, for reminding us all today that love wins, every time! Thanking our Father God for sending His one and only Son to show us how to love Him and one another. Blessings, my friend!
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Amen! Thanking Him with you, Martha. I just read on your comment at Beckie Lindsey’s blog that you and Danny lost a brother-in-law. And I was just praying for you two and the widow and her family when your comment came in. I’m so, so sorry for your loss. May God give you all special strength through this Christmas season! Blessings to you, too! May we learn ever deeper to love Him and one another!
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Thank you so much, Trudy. Your prayers are so appreciated!
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❤️🙏🏻🌹
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Yes! Lovely!
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Thank you, Urzre. May Jesus and His love be born in our hearts every day by renewal!
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I wish it too! To you! Blessings!
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❤️🙏🏼Thank you!
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I do like those Christmas movies with happy endings where love overcomes. As you say, even if they don’t directly point to God’s love, they do reflect something of it. It is amazing to remember, even in the midst of this broken world, that love came down in Jesus and it truly did change everything! I love the song you shared!
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Yes, love coming down in Jesus truly does change everything, Lesley. I can’t imagine my life without the love and hope there is in Jesus, can you? I just recently found that song, and I love it, too. Because love came down, hope is alive! Such a comforting truth, isn’t it? May we open our hearts more and more to the bottomless depths of His love!
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Excellent my dear!! Full of Truth
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Thank you, Zoey. It’s a comforting Truth that because Jesus came down, love will prevail and hope is alive, isn’t it? May we fully open our hearts and lives to His Truth!
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Oh Trudy, I love that hymn “I Heard the Bells” but have never known the background behind it. What a precious and encouraging story. Your words here are so true: “Sometimes we can get discouraged by all the hate, greed, and violence in this world, but love changes hearts, people, and circumstances.” Love does change everything, and because of that hate will not have the final word. I love how the Lord directed us both to the same song by Kim Walker! It is so good, and brings home the truth of that old hymn in such a beautiful way for us today. May you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas, my friend! xoxo
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It’s such a comfort that hate will never have the final word, isn’t it, Bettie? “I Heard the Bells” really speaks to me. In the midst of all the chaos of this world and the troubles in our own lives, God is not dead and He never sleeps! Love will be victorious forever. When I read your last post, I had to smile that God directed us to the same songs. I already had this one ready to post, and I had found “Be Born In Me” for next week’s post. 🙂 May you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas, too! And may it be pain-free! May His love fill us to overflowing and lighten the load!
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Absolutely beautiful Trudy. I’m printing this along with your “ABC’s of Jesus Love” to present and give to the ladies staying at the Women’s Emergency Accommodation Centre for our Christmas celebration with them. I hope you don’t mind! We do church with them once a week, and been searching for the perfect Christmas message that is full of hope and God’s love! Thank you!
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Thank you, Lynn. You definitely are welcome to print them out and pass on to others. You are such a conduit of His love, and I am humbled that you would share these with these women. May God fill us and each of these women with His love and hope in Jesus!
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“Love changes things. One loving person can make an impact on others.” And you just summed up the gospel right here, Trudy! You definitely make an impact on many people through the way you love us through your words. Thank you, friend.
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Thank you for your kind encouragement, Lisa. You definitely make an impact, too! May we spread the gospel of the love of Jesus!
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This is such a hopeful and hope filled post, Trudy. I love the reminders of how love changes everything, whether in movies or real life! Reading the backstory to Longfellow’s splendid poem was insightful and helpful too. We need never despair. A good thought in these ever darkening days. The song you shared is perfect too. And these words of yours resonated most: “Love can melt hardened hearts, change lives, and pour healing and peace into broken hearts and a broken world.” Especially as I reflect on a close relationship that seems broken beyond repair. It gives me hope that all is not lost and everything is redeemable with God. Blessings, love and grateful hugs! xo 💜
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I’m so sorry you are dealing with a broken relationship, Joy. That can be so discouraging. I’m glad you feel more hopeful. Yes, all is not lost and everything is redeemable! I pray God will repair what’s broken in the relationship. Just keep on loving no matter how you’re treated. Very hard, I know. I always have a hard time not to retreat into my shell and build up stronger walls again. Blessings, love, and grateful hugs to you, too! May God keep pouring His healing love into our broken hearts and help us to remember there is always hope in Him!
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Thank you, Trudy, for your compassion and kindness. I’m similar in retreating into my shell and putting up walls. Hurt feelings tend to bring out the worst in us, don’t they? Yet God calls us to do our part. To be merciful, forgive, offer grace and pray for them to be blessed. The result isn’t up to us but we can then rest in not allowing the wound to fester. Amen to receiving God’s healing love and eternal hope! xo 😊❤
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Yes, His unending grace and bottomless love get us through, right? xo back to you, Joy!
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This is so beautiful! Love is the foundation and the answer to why Jesus came so long ago to Earth. You said it all so well with these words ——-> Even though it may not seem so, love will prevail. Hope is still alive, because love came down at Christmas. Because Jesus came, love is possible in a world of hate, greed, and violence. Love can melt hardened hearts, change lives, and pour healing and peace into broken hearts and a broken world. Love that Jesus brought, love that can never be taken away, love that will be victorious forever.
Thank you for sharing this at #TellHisStory.
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Thank you, Mary. Yes, love is the foundation! A foundation in Jesus that can never be broken down. That is such a comfort, isn’t it? May we open our hearts to the fullness of His love and may it be reflected in our lives!
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