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Week 13


Guys it's here finally here, the most wonderful time of the year.  Halloween has passed Thanksgiving is coming and Christmas will be here before we know it! However, is it really the most wonderful time of the year, for some probably not?

I remember as a child how magical holidays were, all of the festivities, the relatives, and the food. Oh my goodness the food. Nothing beats my grandma's lemon ice box pie. I love a good tradition and my family has some great traditions that embraced the real reasons for the season.

Every Thanksgiving we had members from the church attend our family Thanksgiving dinner. The doors to our home were always open to outsiders. Mom and dad welcomed anyone into our home and made sure they left with a full belly and a to-go box. My parents were thankful for the blessing given to them and wanted to share those blessings with others.

At Christmas before we opened gifts we read the "real" Christmas story. The birth of our Lord and Savior, after reading dad would say a prayer of thanksgiving for the current year and ask for blessings in the coming year. Memories I will always treasure.

However, in 2011 my family had to do the holidays without my mom. It was our first holiday season without her. It wasn't the same but we did our best to make new memories and enjoy the company we did have to celebrate with. Sometimes you might have the holiday blues. Sometimes the holidays aren't living up to your expectation. You're missing a loved one or you're just not going to be able to be with family or you're just meh. I get it. I do.

To be honest this entry was hard for me to write and I asked my best friend Alex for a topic and she recommended the holiday funk. As soon as she said I ran with it, but was still struggling with what I wanted to say. And then she sent me this… "It's okay to be in a funk during the most wonderful time of the year. You have permission to feel every emotion you are feeling. You have permission to cry. You have permission to grieve. You have permission, BUT don't forget that joy is waiting for you too. It's waiting to be embraced by your grieving heart. It's patiently waiting for you. So whenever you are ready… please remember joy and grief CAN coexist."

Alex's words are beautiful and encouraging. You can and will find joy in your sorrow. It might not happen as quickly as you'd like, but I promise it does happen.

For me I tend to rediscover my joy when I shift my focus from my sorrow to blessing someone else. My first Christmas without mom was the year Oscar and I hosted a college bible study group for a Christmas dinner and ugly sweater party. To be honest, on party day I wasn't thrilled to be hosting but I'm so thankful we still did! It was a great time with some wonderful people. We had the honor to celebrate Jesus with some young adults who were missing home.

Shifting my focus helped to change my perspective. Life doesn't always go as we plan. Loved ones hurt us, loved ones pass away, the people who raised you aren't healthy to go home to, and sometimes we just have a meh attitude. Wherever you are in life always remember it's okay to be in a season of sadness but don't let that season rob you of a current season of joy.

Today I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and bless someone. You could donate to a Thanksgiving food basket, invite a friend into your home for the holiday season, or give supermarket flowers to someone who needs to be reminded they are seen and they are loved. Whatever you do I pray it changes your perspective, and gets you out of the funk and into the holiday spirit. If you need a day to be meh, take it. Curl up in bed in your pajamas and embrace the meh, but make the effort to wake up the next morning refreshed and renewed. Don't let the meh interfere with your holiday cheer!

This week I had the honor to bless my sweet neighbor Susan. This woman has been so kind to my family. She made us a beautiful wreath for our front door. She checked on us daily while Oscar was out of town. She always seems to have a smile on her face and has a real love for life. You can tell she is thankful for the people she has in her life because of the investment she makes in them. She is all about the holidays and the festivities. She's the first in the neighborhood to agree with me that we need to plan another neighborhood get-together. So basically, come be our neighbor and we will help get you out of the holiday funk! 

Susan I hope these flowers remind you of your beauty and worth. I see you and your hard work. I see the kindness you continue to show others and I hope you know today and always you are loved and valued. I pray these flowers remind you to "rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances."



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