Christmas Card Story
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good new of great joy that that will be for all the people.”
Luke 2:10
Christianity is a religion based on witnesses. Jesus’s disciples witnessing his time on earth. His disciples witnessing his crucifixion. His disciples witnessing his resurrection and his ascension. This a central element that really stuck with me and embedded the importance witnessing other Christians trying their best each day to walk with Christ. Allowing others to witness my journey. It embedded the importance of practicing Christianity within community. Acknowledging and strengthening each other.
There have been many who have helped me. Here I will tell the story of two individuals related to this story of this photo:
The Bible
The Bible in this photo was purchased the day I decided to walk back to Christ after stumbling around the darkness of the wilderness for several years. I was beaten down and basically crawling on an emotional level. My heart craving Christ in ways my conscious mind was not aware of.
I woke up that day getting ready to spend a day with a man who drove up to Asheville to take me on our first date later that evening. I wasn’t sure what the day would bring. I was lost in the world of pagandom, and I was aware he was a strong Christian. We spent the day touring and walking around Biltmore, then as we were leaving the property we began talking about whether religion or spirituality is more important.
He believed spirituality was more important and I believed religion was more important. That lead him to break out into this long talk about Christ and while driving in the car, I let his words wash over me. In sense it felt as he was casting demons that I didn’t know where housed within me. And it felt liberating. Then when we parted ways before meeting up again for dinner, I sat on my couch, and I decided to purchase a Bible.
I went on Amazon and just ordered the first KJV Bibles that popped into my feed. Then as I was driving to meet him for dinner, I decided to give Christianity another try after walking away a couple of years beforehand. We spoke about that as we enjoyed our first dinner date.
After that date I dove deep into His word and allowed it to begin cleansing my soul; breaking me free of the chains that had dragged me to the bottom of hell.
The Stag & The Candle
The Stag and the Candle were purchase while a friend was visiting me during the first couple of weeks after Hurricane Helene. We first connected when I started my walk back to Christ and I remember how much I treasured the Christmas card she sent me during this raw chapter in my life.
Over the year we become closer friends. She really planted the seeds about making sure Christ is the center in my life. She helped me find that stable ground amidst denominational politics. Her friendship encouraged me to dive deeper into the word and become more disciplined. Her friendship helped me avoid certain pitfalls in cultural battles within Christianity. Her friendship helped me become a stronger Christian.
So, her driving to see me during an extremely stressful time during my life and witnessing me buy the elements for the Christmas card I was shooting was special. The trip to buy these items brought a sense of much needed joy in my life. It truly showcased the importance of friendship with other women and the immense power ordinary moments can have. It showed me the importance of playfulness.
This friendship centered around Christ brought me hope and light during dark times and I wish this photo to reflect this story.
Final Thoughts
So, I am sharing this with you because I wish to encourage you to see the deeper stories embedded in this photo. I wish to share the depth I chose to pour into this photo that at the first glance might seem ordinary. Most importantly I wish for it to glorify Christ.
