Love is palpable this time of year, but it is often intertwined in the occasions of visiting, decorating, gift giving, baking, and other activities that we often look forward to because they are comforting, nostalgic, and bring us cheer. This Christmas, let us accept the challenge of stepping out of this place of contentment to practice sacrificial love.

Christmas was my father’s absolute favorite holiday. So when he was diagnosed with terminal glioblastoma (brain cancer) in July 2018, we all hoped to have at least one more Christmas.