It's Good To Be Seen

I wrote this shortly after the holidays in December 2024. But now, as we approach Easter, the story is still the same. We are seen and loved by Him this season. So take heart, whatever is going on in your world.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: A Moment to See

Christmas Eve candlelight service offers a rare and beautiful moment to pause—to step out of the whirlwind of holiday busyness and remember the true reason we celebrate. For our family, it’s a sacred breath amid the hustle, a chance to recenter our hearts.

Every year, I look forward to this service with anticipation. There’s something about the glow of candlelight and the hush that falls over the sanctuary—it’s a powerful reminder that He is the Light of the World, and His presence in my life changes everything.

This year, my husband, daughter, and I found seats near the back. The church was exquisitely decorated—soft lights, joyful faces, a reverent atmosphere. Everything about it felt worthy of celebrating the birth of a King.

Sitting in the back came with an unexpected joy: people-watching. After many years serving up front in vocational ministry, I’ve come to love sitting quietly and simply watching how God is moving.

Families arrived—some with little ones in tow, others greeting each other after long journeys. My heart swelled seeing these reunions. This sacred pause in the season wasn’t just a time to remember Christ the King who came to set us free—it was a moment of healing and coming together.

In the row ahead of us, a family was scrambling to find space for 9… no, 10 people. I offered a seat beside me, and one of their group sat down. They’d traveled over the mountains to be with grandparents—part of their family tradition. I felt privileged to watch the love between family members.

A few rows ahead of this to the right, an older gentleman—perhaps in his 70s—joined a family. As he approached, a younger man stood and warmly greeted him:
“Hey! So good to see you.”
The grandpa replied with a smile,
“It’s good to be seen.”

Those words landed deep in my soul.
It is good to be seen.

And in that moment, it clicked. Christmas is about being seen. It's about connection. This is the moment in history when God made it undeniably clear: we matter to Him. We have always been seen. We have always been pursued. And now, in the Christ Child, He says, “Here I am.”

When you begin to understand the heart of God—the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep—you see why one of His names is Emmanuel, which means God with us.

And this isn’t a casual glance from across the room. No, He sees you. Fully. Completely. He knows the aches of your heart, the worries that keep you up at night, and still He says:
“I am with you. Fear not.”

So I ask: Can you see Him this season?
Do you have eyes to see the Christ Child—the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace?

And if we are the hands and feet of God, His body here on earth, moving and loving and restoring relationships, it raises another question in my heart:

Who in my life am I not seeing?

We live in a world where so many long to be known—especially those in their silver-haired years, where loneliness creeps in as friends pass and family gets busy. We all want to be seen.

So wherever this holiday finds you, know this: You are seen. You are loved.
If the holidays feel heavy—if relationships are fractured or loneliness lingers—you are not alone. Ask God to bring someone into your life who sees you, and to open your eyes to see someone else.

If you’re celebrating with loved ones, soak it in. Hold it close. And then ask yourself—who around me might need to be seen?

This Christmas, may we slow down enough to truly see.
To behold.
To remember who He is:

Wonderful Counselor.
Mighty God.
Everlasting Father.
Prince of Peace.

Wishing you a Holy and Joy-filled Christmas.