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Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a joyous time of peace and hope!
Showing posts with label Merry Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Merry Christmas. Show all posts
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Why is Christmas Time So Stressful?
Every year I watch television shows and read articles giving tips on how to avoid being stressed out during the Christmas holiday season. Yes, this is a very busy time of the year, especially in retail. For years, the topic continues to address practical ways to de-stress yourself during the holidays. This opinion piece will not give you a step-by-step list of things to do in order to avoid getting stressed out during the Christmas season. In fact, if we are still discussing this, then we just aren’t getting it.
Somehow, we have gotten wrapped up and trapped into the commercialism of what we made Christmas to be. Our focus is diverted from the true reason why we commemorate such a monumental Holy holiday. When I watch people camp outside of stores in the early morning hours of Black Friday for advertised door busters, and in some situations, a few people start fighting over a sale item, I wonder if it is really worth it. Honestly, I do not think it is.
I celebrate Christmas throughout the year and not just in that 24-hour time span on December 25th. Every day I give praise and commemorate the birth and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Every day, I try to practice peace on earth and goodwill towards everyone with diligence. When I want to buy a gift for someone, I do not need to wait for a special occasion to do so.
During Christmas, we see tons of reenactments of the manger scene. That scene should be indelibly imprinted in our minds, hearts and behavior. If it is, we will truly understand the concept of humbleness and live each day in the spirit of Christmas. When you see a manger scene, is there something about that scene that makes you stressed? I do not know about you, but for me I am reminded that it is not about me, but “for” me. The calm of this scene makes me realize that we are serving a greater purpose than the typical stressed induced frenzy we get trapped into during this time of the year.
There are some gifts I would really like to receive for Christmas, but money can’t buy them. The jovialness and love I received from family and friends who have passed away cannot be wrapped in a cute little package and tucked under the Christmas tree. I miss my mother dearly, and I remember how she painstakingly decorated the Christmas tree every year, as if she was competing in a contest. I hold on to those wonderful memories of my mother and other close family members and friends who are gone. Since it’s impossible to have them here for Christmas, they are wrapped in a spectacular gift box in my memory. As I look at those family members and friends I love dearly who are still here, I cherish their priceless love.
So when we sing, “Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining…” try looking up from time to time at night and see that the stars continue to shine brightly. Try not to be hellacious throughout the year and make the peace that we sing about on Christmas, be our mantra every day. Why is Christmas time so stressful? It isn’t. We allow the nonessentials to induce stress. If we could embrace every day with that Christmas spirit we lovingly capture during this time of the year, then we would not have to worry about being stressed out at all.
Merry Christmas! Be safe out there and celebrate responsibly.
Somehow, we have gotten wrapped up and trapped into the commercialism of what we made Christmas to be. Our focus is diverted from the true reason why we commemorate such a monumental Holy holiday. When I watch people camp outside of stores in the early morning hours of Black Friday for advertised door busters, and in some situations, a few people start fighting over a sale item, I wonder if it is really worth it. Honestly, I do not think it is.
I celebrate Christmas throughout the year and not just in that 24-hour time span on December 25th. Every day I give praise and commemorate the birth and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Every day, I try to practice peace on earth and goodwill towards everyone with diligence. When I want to buy a gift for someone, I do not need to wait for a special occasion to do so.
During Christmas, we see tons of reenactments of the manger scene. That scene should be indelibly imprinted in our minds, hearts and behavior. If it is, we will truly understand the concept of humbleness and live each day in the spirit of Christmas. When you see a manger scene, is there something about that scene that makes you stressed? I do not know about you, but for me I am reminded that it is not about me, but “for” me. The calm of this scene makes me realize that we are serving a greater purpose than the typical stressed induced frenzy we get trapped into during this time of the year.
There are some gifts I would really like to receive for Christmas, but money can’t buy them. The jovialness and love I received from family and friends who have passed away cannot be wrapped in a cute little package and tucked under the Christmas tree. I miss my mother dearly, and I remember how she painstakingly decorated the Christmas tree every year, as if she was competing in a contest. I hold on to those wonderful memories of my mother and other close family members and friends who are gone. Since it’s impossible to have them here for Christmas, they are wrapped in a spectacular gift box in my memory. As I look at those family members and friends I love dearly who are still here, I cherish their priceless love.
So when we sing, “Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining…” try looking up from time to time at night and see that the stars continue to shine brightly. Try not to be hellacious throughout the year and make the peace that we sing about on Christmas, be our mantra every day. Why is Christmas time so stressful? It isn’t. We allow the nonessentials to induce stress. If we could embrace every day with that Christmas spirit we lovingly capture during this time of the year, then we would not have to worry about being stressed out at all.
Merry Christmas! Be safe out there and celebrate responsibly.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Celebrate Life!
"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone." — Rose Kennedy
I do not wait for a designated time to celebrate the gift of life! I do not wait until a death occurs, to appreciate life. There is not a day that goes by where I do not thank God for blessing me with the breath of life.
There are certain memories during the Christmas season, as well as other holidays, that take us to a gloomy place. Many people were here this time last year, but are not this year. There is a constant void left in our hearts of loved ones we miss dearly that could never be replaced. As we look at the way our lives have changed through tragedy, pain, health challenges, abuse or financial difficulty, we try to hold on to a sense of hope by strengthening our faith. We may be bruised, but we are not broken.
In the hustle and bustle of our lives, we have to stop frequently and breathe. Although we cannot change the events of the past, we have the ability to change our attitudes when approaching the possibilities of the future. We must inhale a newness of life every day and exhale the toxins of distress.
Today, find something to smile about even if your heart is aching. We may not be able to erase those memories of sadness, but we can intensify our pursuit of happiness! Celebrate life!
I do not wait for a designated time to celebrate the gift of life! I do not wait until a death occurs, to appreciate life. There is not a day that goes by where I do not thank God for blessing me with the breath of life.
There are certain memories during the Christmas season, as well as other holidays, that take us to a gloomy place. Many people were here this time last year, but are not this year. There is a constant void left in our hearts of loved ones we miss dearly that could never be replaced. As we look at the way our lives have changed through tragedy, pain, health challenges, abuse or financial difficulty, we try to hold on to a sense of hope by strengthening our faith. We may be bruised, but we are not broken.
In the hustle and bustle of our lives, we have to stop frequently and breathe. Although we cannot change the events of the past, we have the ability to change our attitudes when approaching the possibilities of the future. We must inhale a newness of life every day and exhale the toxins of distress.
Today, find something to smile about even if your heart is aching. We may not be able to erase those memories of sadness, but we can intensify our pursuit of happiness! Celebrate life!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tis The Season!
“A single lit candle can light up a dark room, just as a full moon can light up a midnight sky. Many candle lights can light up the world, just as the sun can turn night into day.”- Kym Gordon Moore
Let the spirit of this holiday season comfort you and your family with great tidings of joy, love, peace, hope, gentleness, faith and the celebration of The Light of the World. One of my favorite scriptures is from Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Continue to ignite that light from within, so that its radiation breaks the darkness of discourage-ment, despair and the diabolical. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year!
With the eternal flame of peace and blessings,
Kym
With the eternal flame of peace and blessings,
Kym
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