Christmas Carols
I love Christmas Carols! I feel joy when I listen to them, but occasionally, I feel sad when I hear them. At my age, I've said goodbye to most of my family and a good many friends. Maybe you are in the same phase of life.
If the holidays cause you pain, if celebrating the birth of Jesus does not bring you joy, please ask trusted friends and or your pastor to pray with you. Try to get out and walk, even if it is in the mall due to weather, ride your bike, fly a kite, hit a bucket of balls at the driving range. Many times physical activity helps. Do something you enjoy - knit, color, crochet, paint. Manage your expectations for the season, especially if you are a perfectionist down to the smallest ornament on the tree (Words lovingly typed by a reformed perfectionist/control freak). Watch a few I Love Lucy episodes for a good, G-Rated laugh! Limit sugar and other foods/beverages which can cause your system to crash leaving you feeling worse after a momentary surge of energy. Ask the Lord to lead you to Scripture that will be uplifting to you.
If your family member or friend is blue, don't try to cajole them into the holiday spirit. This is not a pull yourself up by the bootstrap situation. Be present for your friends and family, listen to them, don't try to fix them or their problems. If you see a little something you think would bring a smile to their face send it to them. Lift them up to the Lord.
Let these words from the New Testament permeate the very fiber of your being:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
And remember, You are loved by God so much He sent His only Son to save you!
May the remainder of Advent be a time of peace and joy for you.
If the holidays cause you pain, if celebrating the birth of Jesus does not bring you joy, please ask trusted friends and or your pastor to pray with you. Try to get out and walk, even if it is in the mall due to weather, ride your bike, fly a kite, hit a bucket of balls at the driving range. Many times physical activity helps. Do something you enjoy - knit, color, crochet, paint. Manage your expectations for the season, especially if you are a perfectionist down to the smallest ornament on the tree (Words lovingly typed by a reformed perfectionist/control freak). Watch a few I Love Lucy episodes for a good, G-Rated laugh! Limit sugar and other foods/beverages which can cause your system to crash leaving you feeling worse after a momentary surge of energy. Ask the Lord to lead you to Scripture that will be uplifting to you.
If your family member or friend is blue, don't try to cajole them into the holiday spirit. This is not a pull yourself up by the bootstrap situation. Be present for your friends and family, listen to them, don't try to fix them or their problems. If you see a little something you think would bring a smile to their face send it to them. Lift them up to the Lord.
Let these words from the New Testament permeate the very fiber of your being:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
And remember, You are loved by God so much He sent His only Son to save you!
May the remainder of Advent be a time of peace and joy for you.
Comments
I am in the same phase of life as you. Holidays can be sad, yet we must go on and give thanks for our blessings. Walking is great and I've done the mall thing a time or two in extremely cold weather! I belong to a ladies social group and we do crochet, make crafts, have a book club and this gets me out and about.
What a pretty background you have on your blog! I haven't been in the blogging world for quite some time and don't even remember how to change the background or wallpaper or whatever it's called. Maybe it's time for a refresher course. LOL.
Can you send some warmth and sunshine up here in the North? It's snowing heavily today and I had to cancel a ladies luncheon. Too bad, but the roads were unsafe.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. It's nice to reconnect with old friends.
Hugs,
Wendy