Twixmas (noun)
Meaning: The period in between Christmas and New Year, typically December 27th-30th.
It's a weird time isn’t it – you barely know the date, or the time of day, let alone which part of the Christmas dinner leftovers to eat next. It's a time when many of us return to the reality of home life, where we know that family can be the best thing about Christmas, but they can also be the worst things about Christmas. A time when we can feel guilty for not working on uni assignments despite the need for a restful break.
Maybe you have had the most perfect last few days full of presents, joy, love, and laughter. Or maybe you can’t help but see the brokenness all around you. Or maybe you've been floating between the two.
Perhaps this is even a reflection of how your term has been? Full of highs and lows; exceeded expectations and massive flops. However your last few days have been, the excitement of Christmas has probably worn off and the days melted into one messy blur. In a time of little structure and away from Christian fellowship, it can be easy to lose focus of Jesus, no matter how many carol services you attended this year.
At least this has often been my experience at this time of year. I think that Sovereign Grace Music’s song ‘O Come, All You Unfaithful’ wonderfully depicts the messiness of this. We may feel weary or burdened despite knowing Jesus but this song beautifully tells of the ultimate Christmas message that God came to earth seeking relationship with His people. Jesus wasn’t born for those who have everything together, He was born for those who are weak, struggling, worried and those who have nothing.
‘“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”’ Matthew 11:28–30
Christ was born for you. He is gentle and lowly, He will give us rest for our souls, and He will love and cherish you no matter how you are feeling. Come and taste of His perfect love, come to the Lamb who was 'slain for our pardon, whose promise is peace for those who believe'.
‘“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”’ Matthew 1:21
To receive our Saviour is to come close to Him as He calls us to come. So whether you've loved every minute of Christmas or hoped for it to end as soon as possible; whether your friends have come along when you've invited them to CU events this year or not; whether you’ve managed to start each day this term to God in prayer or not; whether you’ve constantly rejoiced in the gospel or forgotten it on the daily, Jesus is there waiting for you, waiting for you to come home to Him.
What might it look like to come? In this season, it can look like meditating on His Word and anticipating His next coming. Look to His coming again, when renewal will come to all and we will join the Lamb who was slain for our pardon in the marriage feast of eternity (Romans 19:7). And so, this Twixmas, come to Him and know the joy of knowing your Saviour, rejoicing that He is coming again to call His children home.
This blog was written by Lucy, Relay Worker in Cardiff.