It's hard to think of Christmas without thinking of family. As we head into the holiday season, I look forward to the special traditions my husband and I have started with our three boys. Baking cookies together, decorating the Christmas tree, anticipating gatherings with loved ones --- so much of our experience of the joy and wonder of Christmas involves simply being together as a family.

At the same time, I find this Christmas stirring feelings of grief, as we head into our first holiday season without my father-in-law who passed away this year. My heart grieves what is missing, and feels keenly aware of the very many aspects of life that just aren’t what I had hoped they’d be.

Perhaps you find yourself in a similar place as you think of family this Christmas season – carrying this tension of both joy and sorrow in varying measure.

Where our beautiful hope lies in Christmas is that an imperfect family was the very vehicle by which God chose to come and be with His people. In Jesus’ birth, God made a way for us to belong, not just to each other, but to Him. Immanuel – our God with us – invites us into the family of God – a family that is eternal, unshakable, and ever-present.

This season, let us be reminded of this profound gift: no matter what we’ve lost or how we grieve, we are never alone. Jesus entered our world to share in our suffering, to bring us peace, and to offer us the unbreakable bond of family—His family.

This one’s for the young and young at heart! Let these reimagined classics and silly sing-alongs be your dance party fuel for light-hearted fun all season.