Are you facing the HOLIDAY BLUES?
I love Christmas it has always been my favorite time of the
year. I like eggnog, all the baking and visiting with family and friends! Getting together Christmas Eve and going to
church, then Christmas day; dinner at my house and opening presents. I love it!
But it seems that there are many events that are taking away from the spirit of
this holiday and how we celebrate Christmas. For instance, we are politically incorrect
to say Merry Christmas, it is Happy Holiday? There cannot be a depiction of Christ birth in
the manger in front of a church or in an office building because we do not want
to insult the atheist in our community? The incessant searching for the “Real”
date of the birth of Christ, and that December 25th is not the
correct day to celebrate Christ?
Well, and please note that this is me speaking for me, we
all have our own opinions and traditions, but I celebrate Christ birth every
day, I don’t need a national holiday for that. Christmas, or the idea if it, is
to celebrate the blessing of life, and share with the people you love your time,
your blessings of good food and a few gifts that don’t need to be expensive to
be enjoyed.
I know this is a new age with modern ideas, but can we not
just hold on to this one simple pleasure, without the media hype and the arguing
and bickering about what we are celebrating?
In the work we do at the Ina Mae Greene Foundation, we run
across too many families that need help from generous people, otherwise on this
day or any other day, they might not have a nice meal with family, or have the
option to exchange gifts with friends because they have no home to celebrate
in! These women are forced to leave their families behind simply to stay alive,
so just being in a warm and safe place is sadly all they can hope for.
So if you find that you are allowing yourself to get caught
up in the hype and you are beginning to feel that Christmas is not a time for celebration,
please let us remember to be grateful for what we have; the people around us
who love us, a home, and hope for the future!
AND please remember
that we all have the love of God, no matter what. God is good and His love
endures; He has promised His children the gift of eternal life!
So during this holiday although it can be hectic, confusing
and discouraging, I want to remind you how precious life is, when in doubt
please consider the words of Jesus.
It was Christ who
promised. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world”. This world is indeed a place of trials and tribulations,
but as believers, we are secure. God has promised us peace, joy and eternal life.
And of course, God always keeps His promises! So as you go through your day,
coping with this busy holiday season, remember God’s words and reach out to
someone who is less fortunate than you are, buy toys and donate them to a women’s
shelter for the children who will not be in their own homes this Christmas. Have
your church group, or women’s group purchase household goods for a women’s
shelters, things like, laundry detergent, dish detergent, body wash, bath towels
etc.
Many shelters have a wish list posted on their website that
tells you what they need.
If you have more questions
about what to donate to shelter, please contact us at 214-412-3896, we will be
happy to help you with a list of suggested items to donate. Your kindness will
mean so much to the women and children who will spend their holiday away from
family and friends. I promise you will feel better about the holidays. Working to
help others makes me feel less stressed. Try it and see if you don’t feel
better right away. Let me know how you
make it through this Christmas, drop me a note, http://www.inamaegreene.org/, I would love to
hear from you.
