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While Christmas is full of joy, the world is not. This can be difficult to reconcile at times.

After a difficult year, you may not feel like celebrating. But take heart. Other weary souls have faced Christmas challenges and found peace, hope, and fresh significance. You can, too.

These 25 daily readings tell the stories of people who celebrated Christmas during wars, economic hardship, and personal tragedy. Despite all these things, they were able to bring Christmas cheer to those they were with on Christmas. They celebrated with "family" away from home and sometimes they even celebrated with the enemy. Their stories demonstrate the heart of Christmas, stripped of everything familiar and comforting, but rich in its own way.

Each devotional reading includes "Today's Treasure," a corresponding Scripture reference, and "Today's Gift," a prompt to receive or give the gift of Christmas each day.

May these stories encourage you to discover the heart of Christmas in difficult times. And may you also comfort others as a weary world rejoices.