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 The
attitudes many people are harboring are exactly the opposite of the
normal joyous feelings the holidays usually evoke. With this tumult
in mind we themed this magazine "Making this holiday season the best
ever," not in jest or with sarcasm but instead as a reminder of who
we truly are, the evocative power of the holidays, the choices we
can make, and what we indeed have to celebrate.
We have been created by the awesome power of God Himself in such a
way that our internal path does not need to be a reflection of what
is happening on the outside. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians
4:11-13 that he had learned how to be content in any and every
situation, whether well fed or hungry. We too can learn and choose,
despite external circumstances, difficulties, negative situations,
and hardships to be happy, content and satisfied. These three
positive attributes: happiness, satisfaction, and contentedness are
choices that we can all make.
In this holiday season we start tomorrow with Thanksgiving, is a
holiday given over to appreciation and gratitude. While experiencing
dissatisfaction a person has great difficulty expressing
appreciation and gratitude, and their attitude can spiral down into
darkness, anger and distance. But consider for a moment that there
is great power when we frame situations differently and look upon
the positive rather than dwell on the negative.
1. APPRECIATION: What a person appreciates,
appreciates! It grows. It gains value, priority, importance and
significance to us merely because we change our attitude toward it
and turn our ugly frown upside down! This Thanksgiving give your
thoughts over to all you have to appreciate. And like the Grinch,
they say, your heart too will grow three sizes that day!
2. GRATITUDE: The first celebrated Thanksgiving happened when
immigrant people and native people came together to express
gratitude toward one another for the sharing and cooperation that
resulted in them all still being alive. From that humble potluck
came our traditional holiday to express gratitude to God for His all
sufficient grace and continuous provision. We are instructed in the
Bible to give thanks for all things. However, that instruction isn't
given because God needs our gratitude. We are given this command
because our gratitude changes us, especially in hard times.
Gratitude helps us appropriately take stock of our lives, lifting us
up despite the circumstances, and restores us to right thinking and
feeling. Gratitude is in fact the most powerful emotion for a good
life.
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3. REMEMBRANCE: During the holiday season we
have many opportunities to look back and remember, and share those
memories with others. Remembering the Bible story of the baby Jesus,
the wise men, and the angelic choir that sang in the sky, grounds us
in the true meaning of Christmas. We also share stories of past
Christmases and past joys, friends and relatives, many who have gone
home to be with Jesus, and their contributions to our lives. And we
remember the warmth of friendship and the value of family.
Remembrance has great power over us to level us out, ground us, and
remind us that we are not bereft and alone. Share those remembrances
with loved ones this holiday season, on voice chats, on phone calls,
in texts and email this holiday season. It will lift them up, and it
will change you!
4. FORGIVENESS: There is much brokenness in this world. We
encounter it every day, and often we ourselves also author
brokenness. The holiday season, consisting of Thanksgiving,
Christmas, and New Year’s puts a spotlight on all this brokenness
and positively urges us to offer the apology, forgive and forget
past trespasses, slights, and wrongs, begin relationships anew with
grace, because we ourselves have indeed received great Grace!
These holiday elements: APPRECIATION, GRATITUDE,
REMEMBRANCE AND FORGIVENESS are choices we
can make this holiday season. And when you choose them (and you
can), despite the present external circumstances, you will make this
the best holiday season ever!
God's blessing upon you all!
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