Making Christmas the Best Time of the Year
The Christmas season is magical. Who doesn’t like a good Hallmark movie? It can take us to Magic Land, where everything turns out peachy and keen. It always has a happy ending. People always work out their differences. Everyone is happy in the end. I think that’s why I like those feel-good movies so much. I like being ushered into a fantasy world where all turns out dreamlike. Perhaps this season brings hurt and pain for you. If you’ve lost a loved one around this reminders that you’re not as close to people you love as you’d like to be. This pain can cause loneliness and sadness. We all experience different feelings around this time.
What are some ways we can enjoy the season and enjoy the people we love? I want to offer you five suggestions…
5 Ways to Make This Christmas the Best Time of Year:
1. Take care of yourself. We all need different things to help us feel whole and thriving. What is it that you need? Identify what brings you joy and fiercely pursue it. Are there certain people who bring a smile to your face? Reach out to them and set up time you can enjoy each other. Is there a particular dish or dessert which brings you joy? Make it just for you. Do you need time alone? Schedule it. Ask yourself, “What do I need in this season?” and do it.
2. Prioritize what’s most important. Sit down and make a list of the things you need to get done. Does everything on your list really need to happen? Then, look over your list and identify the top things you must make happen during this season.
3. Get it done. Once you identify your absolute list, tackle it. Tackle it like a linebacker and make it happen. Get it done.
4. Focus on the Savior. We can get so busy during this time that we can forget to add Jesus to our festivities—schedule time to be with God. Maybe take a prayer walk? Gather with friends just to pray. Attend a Bible study. Read a book that will encourage you spiritually. Read your Bible in front of a fire. Go online and find and listen to a sermon by your favorite preacher. Take time to praise our Savior. Worship with music and prayers.
5. Express gratitude. Thankfulness cancels out strife. We have blessings all around us; we just need to look around and accept them. When we
spend our time giving thanks and being grateful it’s difficult to find room for anything else. Begin each day with five things you are grateful for. Start a gratitude journal and add to it daily.
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
-Meister Echkhart
“A merry heart does good like medicine.” – Proverbs 17:22
Lucille Williams
sonshine
Coordinator of the Heartprints Blog Page: Gaye-Ellen Austin or SonShine has a passion to train people to be successful Bible students, following the words of Paul to his protégé Timothy: “ entrust to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.” (2 Tim 2:2). She taught 15 years in public schools and 12 years in a Christian school where she was coordinator of the NILD program for learning disabled students. She has taught Precept upon Precept classes and was a discussion group leader for 10+ yrs. in BSF in Daytona Beach. Fl. and Atlanta, GA. Also, Gaye-Ellen is the writer for the https://www.facebook.com/bible.org/ She also has her own personal blog page: https://sonshinesjournal.com/ David is a full time director for Bible.org as well as his secular job. He and Gaye-Ellen along with their son, Dr. Mark Austin, daughter-in-law, Dr. Blanca Austin and granddaughter Christina (https://christinaaustinlopez.com.) live in the Dallas area. Gaye-Ellen's goal is to present Christ and live Christ glorifying God. One of her favorite verses about the role as parents, teachers, and adults for the next generation comes from Psalm 78:4, "but tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord."
