Wrestling with Christmas

by Sondra Dron

 

 

 

 

 

            Christmas used to cause me debilitating stress. I pictured myself wrestling with a muscle-bound opponent. I longed to push his face in the mat, triumphant over him. Perfectionism embellished the front of his muscle shirt. I was in the ring, battling for my trophy belt bejeweled with the words Christmas Sanity.  

How did I make peace with Christmas?  May I gratefully share things I have discovered in several decades of Christmas?

1.     I can let go. I have come to realize I cannot guarantee anybody’s Merry Christmas. People are as merry as they choose to be.  We can express love, but no matter what we do or how much we spend, people will react based on their perceptions and expectations. We can let go of our need to control their happy or unhappy responses.

 

2.      I can cling to the peace and joy of Christmas, but I can set myself free from traditions that don’t work in the present. I’m not required to bake a dozen cookies for each neighbor because my mother did. I can prayerfully ponder what’s meaningful now.

 

3.     I can be gentle, especially with myself. I can release swollen expectations of what I need to accomplish. I choose to re-evaluate anything that causes anxiety.  Am I trying to impress or please? Is love at the core of it?

 

4.     I can be firm, especially with myself. I can restrain impulse buying that will lead to New Year stress. Even children can understand that it’s about the manger and the cross, not the tree and the gifts.

 

5.     I can say yes and no to invitations and commitments. Yes to those that will bring joy to me and others. I can say no and still be a good person. Even Jesus said no to family and friends. He delayed in going to Lazarus and did not stop ministering when His mother and brothers wanted to talk with Him. (John 11 and Luke 8)

 

 

6.     I can give freely to those who can’t or won’t give back. I can give as unto God. I can invest in a person. I can take a risk.

 

7.     I can receive graciously. I can say “Thank you,” and not rush to buy a gift for the giver.

 

8.     I can laugh, intentionally. I watch funny movies, listen to funny songs and invite children over. I accentuate the holly jolly. I give myself permission to enjoy.

 

9.      I can be still. I can stop shopping, cooking and cleaning. I can light a candle and do nothing but stare.

 

10.   I can pray with the above candle burning. I let God whisper.  I close my eyes.  I embrace the Love of the Universe and let Him embrace me.  Perfect sanity.

 

 

What is your level of sanity so far this season?

Have you found a treatment for insanity at Christmas?  Please take a minute to share it.

 

Sondra Dron loves to help others find intimacy with Jesus. She is charter member of Wilmington Word Weavers, a writers critique group. She lives in Wilmington with her husband, David.

 

 

 

 

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Thanksgiving Chocolates

 

by Mirjami Budarz
 

“My Mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.’” -Forrest Gump. This iconic quote seems to hold true. The box of life contains unpalatable bitter and bittersweet candies in the assortment among the sweet ones.

My first Thanksgiving in this country was such a piece. I went into a long labor and after hours of agonizing pain, our first baby was born. Out of much pain came joy and the wonder of a new life and new motherhood. A piece of bitter sweet candy out of the box of life.

 

There have been many sweet pieces since that time, but then again I got an unpalatable surprise
from my chocolate box. Alzheimer's disease mercilessly silenced my dear sister Liisa. It cocooned her. She became unreachable.

 I missed her desperately and lamented to my daughter. She said, “Stop the pity party and be thankful for Liisa and her life. Celebrate the memories, the sweet times you shared.” Teary eyed, I picked up that bitter chocolate piece from my box of life and thanked God for my precious sister. Ever so slowly sweet memories flooded in and filled the deep void with solemn thanksgiving.

You may also yearn for someone dear to sit at your festive Thanksgiving table to share a family meal, stories, warmth, time together, friendships and hugs. Instead you feel sadness and a painful void. Those are the bitter unpalatable pieces.

Choose to treasure the memories, give thanks for them and look up. Your box of chocolates isn't empty yet. All the boxes contain a sweet “future and hope” piece. Although plain looking, it is the costliest candy, with the unique taste and stamp of the Master Chocolatier.

Sadly, some will leave that special candy untouched, look upon it with disdain and walk away.

Please pick up your “future and hope” piece, smell the tantalizing aroma and taste the goodness. Remember to thank the Master Chocolatier.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8 NKJ

For I know the thoughts I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope. Jeremiah 29:1 NKJ

 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! For his mercy endures forever. Psalm 118:1 NKJ

Mirjami is an active member of Wilmington Word Weavers.
She is an artist, writer and follower of Jesus.
 

Who Will Go?

By Venus Schrader

Who Will Go?

Who or What is this voice I hear?

This rage

This fear

I see the gazelle, she wants to run

Run fast

Run strong

Run long and hard

Filling her lungs with new air

New life

Her heart pumping new blood

The darkness moves swiftly

Shadows try to overtake her

She never looks back

It would mean death

They would capture her soul

Her life would be over

Her body is weak

The darkness knows she is tired

Her legs lose their spring

Her stride is small

She hears a small still voice

I love you

I love you

I will never leave you

Don't give up

Don't brake your stride

Out of the darkness the gazelle sprints

Running

Running fast

Fast long strides

Her head lifted

Her back high

Strong eyes wide open

Full of life

Her heart pumping new blood

New energy

A fire in her belly

The darkness is fading

Over the hills she runs

Through the valleys

Over the streams

She sees the mountains

She runs faster than ever before

The air is clean and good

With tenacity she approaches the mountain

Higher and higher with each step

She is stronger

The top of the mountain in view

The darkness will not find me here

Peace

Quiet

Light and warmth

The sweet smell of LOVE

She looks from the mountain

Courage to look back

She sees the darkness

A consuming ball of smoke

Twisting and twirling

Destroying it's prey

She hears the cries

Loud

Anguish

Who will go?

Down the mountain

She runs

Runs fast

Runs strong

Her heart pumping new blood

When the pressures of my personal life press in on me I ask myself, Am I fit to serve?

The imperfections of my past creep in to challenge my ability to be of use in the kingdom of God.

Before long I feel like this gazelle weak and afraid.

                            Too tired to fight.

                                    Too weak to serve.

Then Jesus reminds me that  he is my strength. Zechariah 4:6 says:

Then he said, "This is God's message to Zerubbabel: Not by might , nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty - you will succeed because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak.”

God's word draws us in to His presence. And like the gazelle, we find our strength in His presence and the darkness fades away. Amen.

The Bible says:

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

God has created each of us for such a time as this.

You can do all things through Christ your strength.

Like the gazelle run your race with courage - your heart pumping new blood.

Your Turn:  In what areas of your life are you like the gazelle?

                   In what ways has God directed your path during the hard times?

Will you go?

Bio: My husband and I, three daughters and one granddaughter landed in Wilmington, NC five years ago. I enjoy spending time with family and friends exploring the wonders of life. As God leads I hope to express this journey of life through the beauty of words.

Are You Denying Christ?

A gate in Galilee, photo by Andy Lee

Written by, Laura Menefee

“You are not one of his disciples, are you?”
 “I am not.” replied Peter.
 “Didn’t I see you with Him in the olive grove?”
 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
 This was the third time that Peter denied that he knew the Lord (John 18:25-27).

A haunting scene. As soon as the denial slipped out of Peter's fearful mouth, the memory of Jesus' words flashed back. Peter had promised he'd follow Jesus even unto death.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers"  (Luke 22:31-32).

Can you imagine hearing these words from Jesus? 

Have you ever had a time in your life when you failed God?  Perhaps you made a decision that you knew He did not want you to make.  Perhaps you face an addiction that you try day after day to break, yet you seem to fall right back into the habit.  Maybe you can’t stand the pressure.  It is just too much at times to fight the fight and live a Holy and pleasing life.  Maybe you secretly long to do just whatever with no thought of the repercussions. 

It is easy to wonder why Simon Peter would walk away from the Lord whom he chose to follow.  It’s easy to blame him and think, “How could he do that?"   

Peter is not alone though. Many of us have failed Christ too.

But Jesus prayed for Simon Peter.  He also prays for you and me.  

I recently went through a time of severe spiritual attack.  I felt the presence of warfare as strong as being on the battlefield.  I felt alone—like no one was there fighting with me.  The truth is that the God of heaven and of earth was praying for me that I would not lose faith, that I would be strong and trust in Him.

I tried and tried to keep the faith and be strong but I failed.  

I no longer feel like I am living in that battlefield.  I feel relief, but I also realize what I lost by giving in. I regret being weak. 

But I’m encouraged by this passage and its truth. It reminds me that God will still use me even when I fail. I love when Christ says, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 

Simon Peter went on to be used by God in a great way. God still had a plan and a purpose for his life.  He also has a plan and a purpose for us. 

Are you letting a failure in your life hold you back?  Don’t allow yourself to be held captive any longer.  Give what you have and what you are to God.  Let Him do the work to use the heart that you have for him.  Simon Peter did!

Bio:   Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in 1998, Laura Menefee has learned to live through very painful emotional times. She shares her experience through writing and speaking, hoping to bring awareness. She lives in Wilmington NC, but is originally from Northern Kentucky.