Oh, the Holidays

In preparation of Thanksgiving celebration I can’t help to think about how many feelings the holidays bring. We look forward to it every mid-year. You’ve heard the saying “Christmas in July”. I know we are not in christmas yet but you know, and I know thanksgiving is the first day of christmas (for the U.S). We savor the “holiday spirit” once we notice how many months are left to get to the holidays. Decorating the home inside and outside, family gatherings, gifts, family travels, vacation, family memories.. sigh.. the good life. It sounds ideal and visually it seems ideal in mid-year.

However, something peculiar happens every year when it comes to the actual week or day of these holidays. What was a dream to get to months ago becomes dreadful or stressful. We make mind-promises that we will make the necessary changes to not get to the place of stress but somehow it’s like the holidays creep in. Once you know it, it’s here. You thought you would have more time to get mentally and emotionally ready to fellowship with family. You thought you’d get your money right to have enough budget to buy all the inspirational Pinterest foods you want to try and also to have enough money for gifts.

The holidays have a way to turn up the dial in all kinds of ways. When in reality this time of the year is suppose to be a time of slowing down, of reflection and enjoying fellowship with loved ones.

I had been in that cycle for years! I am an idealist. I suffered so many holiday seasons because I had an ideal holiday engraved in my head. I wanted it to be like what I would see in these Christmas movies. Mind you, I lived in Miami for 30+ years. Tropical climate all year round doesn’t inspire holidays. When I did get a chance to have the “perfect” christmas outside of Miami I still felt like something was missing. Had the whole family together but then the weather wasn’t screaming “it’s the holidays” (neither the stress of living in Miami). Then I had the weather but not the whole family. It was always something. Our brains are prone to gravitate to the negative. It’s easier to look at that and behold it but that has harmful results.

This year has been a doozy! Lots of drastic changes in a small amount of time. Especially moving from state and leaving family and loved ones behind. I’d think that I would at least get the perfect holidays. I was at some point bracing myself to have a sappy thanksgiving since usually this holiday brings family and fellowship with food and laughter (this may not be the case for everyone). But subtly I began to realize after much down time I’ve had this whole year and much reflection..that I may be ungrateful for certain things and I can be grateful for other things. During holidays the voices and influences of the world shout constantly “we aren’t enough” and “what we have isn’t enough”. It has a way of reminding us of what we don’t have. What we lack.

Where I found myself indulging in sadness from painful memories these days would bring me I come to find that I didn’t get a chance to grieve the losses. Not grieving invited me to stay stuck. Grieving invited me into a gratitude-attitude, step by step. I can be ungrateful and be grateful at the same time. I can be grieving, not be happy and not be grateful that someone close to me is struggling but I can be grateful at the same time for something else. With God, it’s everything. We must love Him with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind. Loving Him isn’t just in our high times. It’s also in our lows. It’s showing up before Him with the ugly and saying “this is all I got, I don’t like this” and because you have the faith to even utter those words in hope that He hears you, that’s costly. That’s worship. You behold Him.

As thanksgiving approaches and it may feel cliche to be grateful on this day, hey, take advantage of it and give thanks. Why not? For us who are in Christ, although we may have difficulties, our hope is in the Lord, Jesus. Our soul and spirit have a place to go to in times of crisis. I had to learn to let go of these idealisms I created from a place of not having hope and survival mode. I do not have everything but I have what I need and more and I am content with that. I can FINALLY breathe and look forward to a quiet slow thanksgiving. I would love to have everyone here with us. But this year we can’t and that is more than ok. I will enjoy what I do have. I have God with me. My husband, my 2 dogs and peace and hope.

If you aren’t struggling and have peace, do not be ashamed about it. Not everyone may have the experience you are having but I rejoice with you! There’s deep untold history with God when you hear someone boast in and about the Lord for what He’s done.

“For the believer there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection.” -Billy Graham

Prayer

Lord, I want to thank you for my dear friends. Thank you for connecting us together this year. I pray for their wellbeing in these times. I pray for your wonderful grace over them. Where it may get tough for them, may Your strength be there with them. I pray for Your joy over them as your word says that -the joy of the Lord is my strength-. Those who are grieving, I pray that as deep as the grief is Your comfort will be deeper. I pray for all shame to come off their souls and be free from anything that has them bound. I pray that You open their hearts and open their eyes to feel and see what You have done for them. Thank you for giving Your son Jesus for us so we may be saved and reconciled to You. Thank you Jesus for saving our lives. Thank you for Your love towards us. I pray that my friends will have wonderful holidays however that may be for them. I pray blessings over them and their families.

In Your name I pray. Amen

For the U.S folks, have a Happy Thanksgiving! Remember to slow down, reflect and enjoy. Enjoy the harvest of what you sowed all year! And thank you for reading and being part of the Selah and Conversations community! Love you all!

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Resource

Give thanks- Steffany Gretzinger

Land of the living- UPPERROOM

Find me- Jenn Johnson

Savior King- Hillsong