Seasons' Greetings ladies!
I wrote the post below back in 2015. We were facing a challenge that year. Looking back over the last few years, I realize that we are nearly always facing one kind of challenge or another. This year it was my health. I became ill early in November, had emergency surgery, and was on home health care for weeks. Now I'm done with hhc, but I still have a lot of healing to do.
Some of you may have your own health challenges, money troubles, a job loss, or like my dear friend, Kim, a loved one moved to heaven recently. Whatever the problem or challenge, I hope you are encouraged by what I wrote a few years ago.
Holiday hugs and Christmas blessings to all of you!
Laura
♥
Dear Readers,
I've had to let go of a lot of my expectations for what I want Christmas to look like this year. It will be a much better month for everyone if I don't fret over it and just accept it. ~smile~ I made my big old Christmas Bucket List, but I already know I won't do even half of it. It's okay. It was fun to make the list.
Part of growing older is accepting the changes in the way we celebrate. Perhaps the kids aren't little anymore, or someone moves away, someone is is ill, or a job is lost, or you're living in a hotel over Christmas because the sellers won't move out of the house you bought! Yep, that happened to us with a baby, two toddlers, and a ten year old. Fun Christmas that was, watching the Food Network and Home and Garden channel and not being able to bake a single cookie or decorate a tree.
It was also the year that I started new traditions that have become precious to my younger kids who are now teens. It was all in my attitude. Candles burn in hotel rooms, and Christmas music plays from the CD player there, too. Most wonderful of all, I bought The Advent Book by Jack and Kathy Stockman. It's become a part of every December night until Christmas.
So, maybe this is a year when you need to let go of some of your Christmas expectations. God is able to reshape the year in a beautiful way when your primary focus is on Him. Go ahead, give it a try. I think you'll be glad you did.
Happy Christmas Season,
Laura Lane
120515
Little things can mean a lot. Be kind everyone - to others. We know not what they go through.
ReplyDeleteBlessings for a wonderful Christmas to all.
Merry Christmas, Laura! 🎄
ReplyDeleteDear Laura,
ReplyDeleteYou truly are showing people a better way to live. I try to leave it up to God because, of course, there is always something to worry about.
My kids are grown but we can't see them (or our grandkids) because of Covid. I have had cancer for 4 years but I am still alive and doing o.k. This will be the 1st Christmas I have spent without my kids or grandkids but I am grateful because God is with me and us.
I hope you are feeling better each day.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas Laura! God Bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteMerry and blessed Christmas my dear! Jack and I have been ill after the move, my brother had surgery on his other hand and was robbed of his entire 800 dollar monthly income. Jack and I borrowed money to pay his bills and will now be in charge of his finances per his request. Still I have joy and am blessed to have my brother and my Jack to share the holidays with. Please forgive me for not keeping up better! It has been tough the last several weeks.
ReplyDelete