Thanksgiving and especially Christmas seem to bring out the best and worst in folks. It's as if many just don't get beyond the yearly grumblings. That's not you?
For those of you who don't fit into te popular culture holiday stereotype, keep reading.
Thanksgiving seems to be turning into fight club, family style hre in America. Some people use social media to spread the reason for Christmas rejoicing, the message of Christ's birth and salvation. However, social media gone wild is usually full of anonymous year end harsh commentary. And in face to face interaction, especially in our homes?
Such anger, such disappointment, such bullying . . .
Yes, I know, it is perhaps the only time when those family members weakest in moral integrity dare to appear on momma's doorstep for a family meal. And those wild child siblings--first, second, and third generation--always act up right after the blessing of the food and the first,"Will you pass me the turkey?" That's why I like to watch Tyler Perry holiday films. He doesn't sugar coat the bad and he let's th good speak for itself in his character's portrayals. He reveals a much ignored family fact:
The steadfast family peacemakers, often ignored or despised by other family members for being meek, always seem to have to work overtime during Thanksgiving in the United States. Many of us suffer from internal doubts about where we fit in as family members. We hide deep doubt about carrying on the national tradition. Especially when the holidays are accompanied by personal, local, national, or international crisis. We question . . ."Give thanks, for what? This family mess, this global incident? Do we really want to do this again next year???????? Going shopping is less stressful." Not in today's 21st century reality.
Speaking of shopping, Christmas is another situation altogether. It goes beyond the traditional meal sharing and awkward table talk.. Though similarly spiritual, it involves acts of gift giving.
Inside, a little voice whispers, "Why did they get me this gift? I can't buy one of equal value!" or "The way they been acting, they don't deserve a gift from me." And, sometimes, "I don't have a gift to give, I'm such a loser." or, "I don't feel worthy of receiving a gift from anyone. Look at me, I'm worthless!" Others run from store to store silently chanting "Gotta spend, gotta spend, gotta spend, spend, spend."
Do you wrestle with any of these holiday situations or thoughts?
Delores Fisher . . .photo by Blackberi
Perhaps a slowing down of what we do on the daily will help us all to remember that sharing a table full of food out of love, not obligation is a way to nuture others as we interact. And sharing giving thanks to people, but primarily to God is the spiritual reason for Thanksgiving in the middle of joy, conflict, ot hardships. And when it comes to Christmas, our most precious gifts are those that money really, truly can't buy in their purest form . . . time, patience . . . love . . . peace . . .joy . . .forgiveness . . .compassion . . .thankfulness . . . nurturing . . . repentance . . .healing . . . restoration. Joy to the World, The Lord Has Come.
Do we want our days of holiday celebration filled with stress and guilt? Giving thanks should be guilt free. Christmas without multi-colored light shows, trees, ornaments, santas, egg nog, warm apple cider, sleigh rides, reindeer, crafted songs that invoke nostalgic memories of those we love present or absent, is still a celebration of a most precious gift - - - Christ's birth and all that follows from his life's work here on Earth.
It should be meditating and exploring with discernment, the above thought, as we observe this time of the year's other celebrations. Although at times very difficult, we all need to develop an intentionally consecrated heart-place for sincere gestures of sharing and giving to those we care about, to those we love.
Delores Fisher . . .photo by Blackberi
For those who are givers, material "things" are nice. However, what about words of kindness, encouragement, and forgiveness, moments of sharing laughter and life stories, expressions of empathy in a hospital room, nursing home, or on a street with those who are homeless? Positive gestures, once released, can transform others' lives for the better. None of us are perfect within ourselves.
Delores Fisher . . .photo by Blackberi
Maybe if we just look a little deeper into the reasons for Thanksgiving and Christmas, we would wrestle less with how to celebrate it's purest intent.
Shine a light on the joy.
Delores Fisher
For those of you who don't fit into te popular culture holiday stereotype, keep reading.
Thanksgiving seems to be turning into fight club, family style hre in America. Some people use social media to spread the reason for Christmas rejoicing, the message of Christ's birth and salvation. However, social media gone wild is usually full of anonymous year end harsh commentary. And in face to face interaction, especially in our homes?
Such anger, such disappointment, such bullying . . .
Yes, I know, it is perhaps the only time when those family members weakest in moral integrity dare to appear on momma's doorstep for a family meal. And those wild child siblings--first, second, and third generation--always act up right after the blessing of the food and the first,"Will you pass me the turkey?" That's why I like to watch Tyler Perry holiday films. He doesn't sugar coat the bad and he let's th good speak for itself in his character's portrayals. He reveals a much ignored family fact:
The steadfast family peacemakers, often ignored or despised by other family members for being meek, always seem to have to work overtime during Thanksgiving in the United States. Many of us suffer from internal doubts about where we fit in as family members. We hide deep doubt about carrying on the national tradition. Especially when the holidays are accompanied by personal, local, national, or international crisis. We question . . ."Give thanks, for what? This family mess, this global incident? Do we really want to do this again next year???????? Going shopping is less stressful." Not in today's 21st century reality.
Speaking of shopping, Christmas is another situation altogether. It goes beyond the traditional meal sharing and awkward table talk.. Though similarly spiritual, it involves acts of gift giving.
Inside, a little voice whispers, "Why did they get me this gift? I can't buy one of equal value!" or "The way they been acting, they don't deserve a gift from me." And, sometimes, "I don't have a gift to give, I'm such a loser." or, "I don't feel worthy of receiving a gift from anyone. Look at me, I'm worthless!" Others run from store to store silently chanting "Gotta spend, gotta spend, gotta spend, spend, spend."
Do you wrestle with any of these holiday situations or thoughts?
Perhaps a slowing down of what we do on the daily will help us all to remember that sharing a table full of food out of love, not obligation is a way to nuture others as we interact. And sharing giving thanks to people, but primarily to God is the spiritual reason for Thanksgiving in the middle of joy, conflict, ot hardships. And when it comes to Christmas, our most precious gifts are those that money really, truly can't buy in their purest form . . . time, patience . . . love . . . peace . . .joy . . .forgiveness . . .compassion . . .thankfulness . . . nurturing . . . repentance . . .healing . . . restoration. Joy to the World, The Lord Has Come.
Do we want our days of holiday celebration filled with stress and guilt? Giving thanks should be guilt free. Christmas without multi-colored light shows, trees, ornaments, santas, egg nog, warm apple cider, sleigh rides, reindeer, crafted songs that invoke nostalgic memories of those we love present or absent, is still a celebration of a most precious gift - - - Christ's birth and all that follows from his life's work here on Earth.
It should be meditating and exploring with discernment, the above thought, as we observe this time of the year's other celebrations. Although at times very difficult, we all need to develop an intentionally consecrated heart-place for sincere gestures of sharing and giving to those we care about, to those we love.
Delores Fisher . . .photo by Blackberi
For those who are givers, material "things" are nice. However, what about words of kindness, encouragement, and forgiveness, moments of sharing laughter and life stories, expressions of empathy in a hospital room, nursing home, or on a street with those who are homeless? Positive gestures, once released, can transform others' lives for the better. None of us are perfect within ourselves.
Maybe if we just look a little deeper into the reasons for Thanksgiving and Christmas, we would wrestle less with how to celebrate it's purest intent.
Shine a light on the joy.
Delores Fisher
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