From Me to You
Christmas Greetings.
From my house to yours, I wish you joy.
For those of you going through tough or lonely times, though, December’s joy runs away and hides. I am so sorry. These days are hard.
I offer a few distractions that I found helpful…
An easy recipe for mini pecan tarts…a favorite tea time treat. I call baking “dough therapy.” It’s just plain therapeutic to get your hands messy.
A link to an old-timey Christmas classic by O. Henry, “The Gift of the Magi.” Sunday night, while tucking in my grandson, we listened to this read-aloud version and Hayden and I decided it definitely fell into the “made-us-feel-good” category. It’s important to hear sweet words at bedtime.
A throwback post from a time that was well, just plain sad for me. I endured Christmas, not enjoyed it. I know many of you wonder if the holidays can ever be happy again. Take heart. Healing leads to sky-high appreciation of the smallest of pleasures. Read it below ↓.
xo,
Carole
From the Archives:
Sometimes, Christmas doesn’t feel good.
In the height of my despair following an abrupt and unexpected separation, my sister coined a phrase for me. After checking-in on me every morning, she would end the call not with, “Have a good day,” but simply, “Have a day.” It was all I could imagine.
So for those of you suffering this season, instead of the unimaginable, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, “ I would say, “Have yourself a Christmas.”
That word, Christmas, packs a punch.
I speak just enough Spanish to see “Christ-mas,” or “Christ-more.” I know that’s not what the word means, but nevertheless, my brain automatically cuts that syllable out of the pack.
Emmanuel is born.
Christ with us. Christ with YOU. Christ more.
The baby redeemer, a magnificent oxymoron, at once helpless and holy.
Also like you, helpless in your pain, yet holy in how God holds it…fragile, yet sacred.
The Spirit of God promises to intercede for you when you can’t form the words. It’s okay. Your broken heart speaks for you.
So…Shalom….peace. And have yourself a Christmas.