When Christmas Feels Un-Christmaslike… #ChristmasAlwaysFindsMe

Let’s be real.

This year has been HARD. For EVERYONE.

We’re all struggling to find joy, peace, and silver linings.

Some turn inward to find that peace.

And while I definitely search internally for comfort and calm, my Christmas Joy comes with bringing it to others.

Yesterday I did a little thing. It wasn’t much, but it made a difference. I went to the Dollar Tree yesterday after work and picked up a bunch of garland, window clings, and little Santas and Elves. Today I brought them to work and we used them to decorate all of our work station cubicles, spreading a little cheer.

In my alternate universe I’m an alarm dispatcher for security companies. Not exactly a “no stress” job. We need a little Christmas there.

To watch the faces of my work peeps brighten and to see them getting excited about decorating their stations made my whole day!

And it seems I’m not the only one feeling the need to give…

Hubby called me at work to see how I felt about adopting a family in need and making Christmas special for them. We picked a single mom with 5 children between the ages of 10-2. No child should have to miss out on the magic of Christmas.

As many of my long term readers know, I’m a military brat.

Christmas in the Phillipines (I’m Mary)

We moved. A lot.

Somehow, Christmas still found it’s way into my heart and soul….so this song by the incredibly talented new(ish) artist, Ingrid Andress, really spoke to me on a deep level.

Wherever you are…

Whatever you’re doing….

My greatest wish for you this holiday season?

That Christmas finds you.

*hugs*

Humbug Heartbroke Holiday

This morning I hopped onto Facebook like I usually do only to see a post from a dear friend from my childhood asking for prayers for another friend and her family. Apparently her friend lost her 3 year old child suddenly. I didn’t know this woman or her family, but my heart broke just a little bit. An event like that has the ability to color the holiday forever.

Hers is not the only situation like that, I’m sure. In fact, my cousin’s wife reached out recently, too, with a request for prayers. Her brother was in ICU and had been put into a medically induced coma so that medical staff could do tests to figure out what was wrong with him. Thankfully, he’s out of the coma and is responding…and the hospital was able to pinpoint an area to focus their tests.

As beautiful as the sentiments are behind Christmas, the truth is that there are things that can happen to make the holiday feel that much more lonely and painful. Relationships end. People die. Health can fail. Maybe that’s why, despite the sad tone, Blue Christmas has always been a favorite song of mine.

Personally, I love a good sad song…. Lyrics have a way of touching the heart and sometimes releasing healing memories and tears. This Taylor Swift song speaks to me in that way….

With all that hurt and heartache, it’s easy to get lost in feelings of hopelessness. We need help and kindness…from family, from friends…sometimes from total strangers. There’s salvation in kindness…and we never know when we’ll need to be on the receiving end of that helping hand. We never know when reaching out to another person with a helpin hand could be a helping hand reaching back for you. Nothing illustrates it for me better than this Emerson Drive song. Heck, you never know when you might be the Guardian Angel sent to save someone else.

Lost Christmas? This May Help Find It…

Ever feel like you’ve lost the spirit of Christmas? I have. As joyful as the holidays can be for most, circumstance, loneliness and various other things can make it difficult to see past your own pain to the beauty and joy of the season.

There’s something so pure and sweet about this performance of “Where Are You Christmas?” Maybe it’s the fact that this young girl hasn’t been overly coached and trained and that the music is allowed to speak for itself, but it definitely reminds me that the spirit of Christmas is found in allowing love to fill your heart.

So if you see someone struggling this holiday season, take a moment. Do something kind for no other reason than it may help someone else feel better. Spread the Christmas cheer… You’d be amazed at the difference a smile can make to a stranger. Or the generosity of letting someone through in the midst of the holiday traffic. And if someone does something fantastic for you, pay it forward! The most valuable holiday gifts rarely have anything to do with money, but with the thoughtful kindness with which the gifts are bestowed.

Has someone done something kind to you recently? Are you one of those folks struggling this holiday season? Good or bad, share! You may be spreading holiday cheer…or maybe you need some. Regardless of which side you fall on, I’d love to be there for you.