A Life Full of Gratitude ~ A Heart Full of Gratitude: Light & Shadows

In science, Jaret is learning about light and shadows. His homework this weekend included drawing the earth around the sun during the different seasons and describe how the light of the sun shines on earth. As winter solstice approaches, the days are getting shorter and as the sun is low in the sky, it's rays extend wide.

This time of year, can be tough with how early it gets dark. We seem to live in more darkness than light this time of year. Not having enough sunlight, can truly affect the moods we have and leave us feeling depleted and a little down. I have felt some of that recently. Add the stress of life - home and work, and some days seem to be more difficult than others. It is no surprise that anxiety and depression are on the rise. With the pressures and expectations of Christmas approaching, many more people than ever feel stress and begin to slip into the holiday blues.

We tend to get caught in a trap, a trap that is set by what the world tells us Christmas is. We are led to believe that if we just buy this or buy that, we will find happiness. Our world is very consumer orientated but one thing we begin to realize as we grow older, is that we don't need for anything and gifts of things become less important. What is important is the celebration of Christ's birth and being with the ones you love.

We also have high expectations for this time of year. I am just as guilty as the next person about this. I like tradition. And I like things to be just right. That is something I constantly have to work on and continue to remind myself to fix my heart on the joy of the Christmas season. To fix my eyes on the things of heaven, rather than on the things of this world. We need to find a balance between Christmas traditions and the consumerism that surrounds us.

One thing that I love about Christmas approaching is the many Christmas movies on tv. Some are fun and silly but those aren't the ones I tend to gravitate to. The movies I love are the Hallmark movies. The ones that are playing on W Network this time of year. The movies I love best are the ones that celebrate love of family and have a message of forgiveness and reconciliation. Christmas movies that have a message of hope and a message of new starts - where every day can be a second chance.

We can choose to live in darkness or we can choose to live in light. When we choose to celebrate Christ's birth at Christmas, we are choosing to live in light. When we choose to love, we are choosing to live in the light. When we choose to show forgiveness and grace, we are choosing to live in light. I pray that this holiday season, you are each choosing the light!

I hope you are able to focus your heart on the things that really matter this holiday season. I hope you feel the presence of God - Emmanuel - God with us. I hope that in the hustle and bustle of shopping and fighting the crowds, wrapping the gifts, baking, and preparing the house for Christmas, that you are able to live in the light.

Lately...