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 25^th 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.