Incarnation

“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” – Simone Weil

"Attention is the most basic form of love. Through it, we bless and are blessed." —John Tarrant
 
Christmas is God demonstrating, lovingly, his full attention – toward you.

God sees you, and he shows up in the Incarnation in a way we really can’t get our minds around as human beings. It is so important to God for you to know that you’re not alone that he put on human flesh as God-come-to-earth to prove it. He is close to you. He sees you. He loves you and will never leave you.

God’s full attention toward you is a channel of blessing and healing. No matter how dark things are right now, God is with you and everything is going to work out. You’re okay.

It’s been said that attention, in and of itself, is healing. Your divine creator is not distracted or absent. His attention is fully yours, and he is here with healing.

Christmas gives opportunity to pause in this glorious light of God’s attention, just like the shepherds aglow in angelic light – seen, sought out, sung over, inspired. You’re invited to return his gaze and savor his nearness as a fellow human, born and enfleshed just like us, "acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3) just as you are, acquainted with both your grief and his own.

Christmas also invites us to give generously of our attention to others. The gifts and cards, the shared meals, the parties and visits, the worship services - it's all about paying attention to one another with love. And the more full our schedule is with attending to others, the more crucial it is that we also take time to pay attention to ourselves in the way God pays attention to us, with love and grace.
​
Attention is love. Receive it…give it…savor it. God sees you and is with you. Merry Christmas!

The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
​John 1:14

Thinking about therapy in the new year? Counseling for adults, teens, and couples is available through my private practice, Dwell Psychological Services, for clients in Grand Rapids, MI, and throughout all 42 PsyPact states. Non-clinical mindfulness coaching is available anywhere in the world for individuals or groups seeking to strengthen their understanding of mindfulness theory and practice. More information can be found at www.DwellPsychological.com or www.bit.ly/IreneKraegel. It's time to take care of yourself!