Google

Monday, December 19, 2016

Happiness Bursting Out the Seams For the Holiday Heart

Happiness requires struggle. It grows from problems.
Joy doesn’t just sprout out of the ground like daisies and rainbows.
Real, serious life-long fulfillment and meaning have to be earned
through the choosing and managing of our struggles
(Mark Manson)





Around this time of year, many of us experience the holiday heart. We start thinking about all the extraordinary things we thought we were destined to see but didn’t. We start to consider all the plays we made trying to win. And then the emotional turbulence begins when all the commercials and Christmas carols start playing on the radios making us aware that it really is Christmas.

  • ·         We want to smile but our hearts are caught up in drama.
  • ·         We try to stay consistently happy but suddenly, it seems as if all the troubles of the world have landed in the palm of our hands.
  • ·         We try our best to become absorbed with the delights of Christmas, but the winds of depression hit us hard like the seasonal breezes that come with the winter solstice.


Cheer up!

They say that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for a reason. Here is one thing to get excited about; Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. Aren’t you excited at least about the four-day weekend that you are about to have? 

The lights and ornaments that seem to be strung all around brings me joy. The scenery to me is so beautiful that I can’t help but to smile.  I also look forward to the inches of conversational daylight that I will be buried under when my family gathers for Christmas. And then I consider the fact that we will be moving on into a brand-new year and the grand idea of it for me is like being wrapped in romance.

Yeah, I said it! ROMANCE.

By romance I mean, the greatest love you will ever experience. If you believe that God is love than you know what I am talking about. God loved us so much that he kept us here another second, minute, hour, day, month and now we are about to embrace a brand-new year with brand new mercies and opportunities to pursue.

  • ·         We can mope around with depression feeling defeated, or we can celebrate the fact that God loved us so much that he gave his only begotten son.
  • ·         We can look back at all the projects we started yesterday that we did not complete or look out over the peaceful valley of tomorrow that is upon us and accept your experiences as part of the process. It’s almost like that half empty half full thing.


Christmas is a day filled with love and warmth. It is a day to walk happy in the sun. It is a
day to silence the doubts for a moment and let the beauty of the day Jesus was born sink in, and enjoy the blessings of celebrating him, knowing that there is a beautiful world waiting for you out there and that tomorrow is yours for the taking.  It is a day to “remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14b).

Remember that we are not on this journey alone. Love yourself as you are and where you are. It is so important in overcoming adversities. I encourage you to keep holding on, to faithfully move forward and to not let go of your promise. Indulge in God’s love. It is so free and so beautiful and so yours. It is deeper than the waters of a lake and more expansive than the earth. Your joy in his love is like fertile ground. There is success in knowing that God is bigger than all your problems. Not to mention that it is the most wonderful time of the year, so cheer up and enjoy it.

From my heart to yours,

Merry Christmas!


That your holiday may be merry and bright and full of many, many blessings. 

38 comments:

  1. So many people love to dwell on the what if's instead of looking around and seeing the beauty that is happening all around them. Yes there is ugly in the world I prefer to seek the positive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is good. Stay positive. God bless and happy Holidays!

      Delete
  2. I can definitely relate with the feelings of despair and stress that threaten to take over this time of year. Thanks for the great reminder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah! It is sad, there are people who will not receive or exchange even one gift out there because they simply don't have it. God bless those who are homeless, hungry, poor. That their holidays might come with much blessings.

      Delete
  3. I know a lot of people get sad around this time of year, but I choose to be happy. Thank you for the reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Merry Christmas! It's my favorite time of the year and I try to always remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. I love spending time with family and friends and keeping old traditions as well as making new ones.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I ADORE this post! Finding happiness can be a battle sometimes, and for some, it can be next to impossible around the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I could not be happier about the holiday season I only wish I could slow down time to enjoy it even more! Merry Christmas!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup@ I really appreciate the downtime. Makes a difference.

      Delete
  7. THis is definitely my favorite time of the year. Everyone is usually so cheerful and happy. I also love to think about helping those in need during this season!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is probably my favorite time of year, but I do know that there is a lot of people out there that this year brings a lot of pain. It's a good reminder that we do need to find happiness and at least something. We should always try to help others who are in need.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Christmas is definitely my favorite holiday, but sometimes I have a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too. But, three days til Christmas. Wow! Can't believe how fast this year has gone by.

      Delete
  10. I love Christmas. I wish there was more time to enjoy the season instead of the shopping, wrapping and chore after chore.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is such a great post, I have to admit I find Christmas hard, I'm not 100% sure why, but looking back I have for many years. I'm hoping knowing I find it hard, will help me work with it and enjoy it a little more though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you enjoy it a little more too. You deserve to be happy. God bless!

      Delete
  12. I really enjoy the holiday season and do what I can for others. Being with loved ones really is what it's all about.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah! I loved when my family gathers together for the holidays.

      Delete
  13. One of the reasons I love the holiday season so much is because of family. I get to spend a lot more time with my family. I get to put smiles on their faces and stay up late laughing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Merry Christmas to you and yours!! I love getting to see my family this time of year!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is an awesome quote above and it makes so much sense. I love this song and always have since I was a little girl. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday because the happiness of others when I give them an unexpected gift. Thanks for sharing the song and awesome quote too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah I just found this quote in this awesome book I read this week. Yeah, I love that song too. I think I love caroling as the best part of the season.

      Delete
  16. Merry Christmas to you and your family! Seeing family during the holidays is the best. Enjoy yours!

    ReplyDelete
  17. This warmed my heart. It's so easy to get caught up in things but Jesus is the reason for the season and we often forget that.

    ReplyDelete
  18. God's love is ever present and can not compare to anyone's love. I am loving the Mark Manson quote, which is so true

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah! I loved it a lot. He is a great thinker. And yes, God's love is the best love you can ever experience.

      Delete
  19. I get so happy this time of year! Unfortunately I know way to many people that get depressed. It's so sad to see people not happy

    ReplyDelete