Christmas is at my house every year! Our tradition is to celebrate Christmas Eve at my mom’s, but I get to host Christmas. Each year I am excited about this role. I adore Christmas for many reasons, none short of the real reason to celebrate. Rampant virus-induced fear and my husband’s post-radiation destruction put a damper on that in 2020. This year has honestly been even more taxing on many levels, personally and globally. That makes it all the more important for us to dig down deep and find joy this year.
My heart aches for it. I am confident I am not alone. I am also guessing I am not unique in the fact that there is often stress, disagreements, and downright negative feelings among family members. I will be the first to admit I am not immune to this.
About a month ago I expressed some pretty ugly feelings to someone very close to me. We are so complicated as humans, at times. Once we leave our immediate circle, we branch out into the extended circle. The larger the group of unique and diverse individuals, along with the stressors of life, the more likelihood of the opposites of the seven fruits of the spirit to rear their ugly heads. Love, Joy, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control, where are you?
If we could all embrace the research that all negative feelings are rooted in some kind of fear, maybe we could be kinder to one another. If we realized that the negative energy affects every single member of the group both youngest, oldest, and all in between, maybe we would stop and consider the ramifications that we are both teaching the young this behavior and breaking the hearts of the elders who may not be with us another Christmas. We also know it’s not only age that affects this possibility, none of us know the last Christmas we may celebrate.
I have my own challenges with this. But recently I have been convicted of the enormous toll it takes on everyone, not just a few directly involved, but everyone connected. Because of this, I have chosen to lift my white flag. That does not mean I completely agree or that I can’t have independent feelings. It does mean I can leave them at the door or work through them individually, without it affecting a larger group of people that all desperately want and need to be in the presence of love, peace, joy, and acceptance more than ever before.
So while I am convicted myself and plead with my own family, I offer the best gift advice I can give to you, also. You can give the ultimate gift this year if you choose to. It has no monetary expense tied to it. But it does have a cost. The cost is selflessness, humbleness, and forgiveness. While we struggle with it in our heads our hearts are shattered. We are harming ourselves and others. Not allowing your heart to be set free creates abandonment, despair, emptiness, hopelessness, resentfulness, and on and on. What unbelievable power we hold to give and receive such a perfect gift!
My gift to you is simply this reminder. I challenge us all to be the finest gift giver this year.
No author to credit for this borrowed quote.
Forgiveness is the best form of love…
It takes a strong person to say sorry
And an even stronger person to forgive…
Hoping you find a place, in my space! ♥
2 Comments
Love this!!
❤️❤️❤️