That Time of Year

It's that time of year when...
-you neither sleep normal hours nor at normal times of the day/night.
-you do nothing but study and consume abnormally large amounts of caffeine and sugar in hopes that you will stay awake for just one more hour.
-you just want to sleep in your own bed and cuddle with your dog (or cat, if that's what you have or prefer).
-you know that joy will come with Christmas, but first comes the pain of finals.
-you say goodbye to friends who are graduating or will be studying abroad next semester.
-you begin singing "White Christmas" because the brown grass is still visible.  (I guess this one applies more to this year than previous years, but it's too true.)
-we either focus more on the Lord for strength and rest or push Him aside and convince ourselves that we can do it on our own.

There seems to always be seasons of "that time of year."  There's that of time of year for snow, rain, and sunshine, beginnings and endings, hellos and goodbyes.

Maybe the majority of the items on the above list are true primarily for college students, but many feel pressures and stress during the weeks and days approaching Christmas.

In recent months, I have come to realize that the Lord is present in every time of year.  He should always be the center of every season, the peaceful and the chaotic.  In all things give thanks and praise the Lord, for He never stops being good.  It's true.