HalloThankMas

These last months on the calendar sure have a life of their own. A  crescendo of sorts occurs each year in the "ember" months. Oh, the feels of HalloThankMas…shorter days and chillier temperatures bring us down a bit, but the upcoming gatherings offer a glimmer of hope. While the leaves fall and blow away, the flurries appear and the boots come out. Our perspective dictates whether we feel gloom and doom or wonderful anticipation. As a child, I didn’t really feel any negative effects of the shorter days. Sure, I missed playing outside until 9 pm with the neighborhood kids. Certainly I longed for warmer day activities that were paused for the season. But jumping in the leaves, putting on an extra blanket, and new episodes of our favorite TV shows had me embracing the change. Halloween was fun neighborhood kid’s time. We knew everyone in town and anticipated those full-size candy bars! We also loved helping mom make and bag big batches of popcorn to give to the trick or treaters. I’m not a huge fan of Halloween, but I have carried on some fun traditions with my own kids. As Thanksgiving came, time in the kitchen with my mom and siblings forged forever memories of stuffing making, potato peeling, pie baking, and turkey basting. Family surrounding our big table was the best! Traditional thanksgiving is still a big deal here! After cleanup, it was time to get excited for Christmas! “Real” Christmas trees did not allow for early decorating, but mom pushed it as far out as she could! Carrying the boxes from the attic was the beginning of the annual ritual that left our home looking like a Christmas card. Some of my dearest memories of my family were made during this season. I loved my childhood! I carry so much joy from that season in my life. I hope I have adequately expressed my love of the holidays to my kids, so memories will be added exponentially!
Any  gloom and doom I am feeling this season is not caused by the time or temperature changes, but the life ones. The loved ones we’ve lost leave a daily void in our lives, and the emptiness is multiplied during the holidays. My holiday recollections are bittersweet. Their value increases each year. From the old Christmas carols to special movie nights, childhood memories both warm my heart and bring warm tears to my cheeks. Memories of decorating my first home as an adult, sharing holiday joy with new families, and especially my experiences with my children at Christmastime are etched in my memory. They spark both joy and sadness, regrets and redemption. To have a few more moments with the ones I’ve lost would be sweet, but gratitude that I had them to love for a time must suffice.
Visiting the past is a mixed bag of emotions, but a trip we must take each year.   Living in the present, right now, in this season, is where we need to find joy and contentment. Using the knowledge of lessons learned in the past and the confidence that God will sustain us in an unknown future enable us to enjoy and be thankful for this season. The hope that came through The Birth, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is where we put our focus.  We learn in Ecclesiastes that there is a time and a season for everything under heaven.
May you embrace the season you’re in, and find hope in this holiday season.  I pray you are reminded in all the little things that God is faithful, loving and patient with us, and wants all of us to be known as His children.
Make memories this year that your children and their children will recall in their old age. Take time to truly love others as Christ loves us. Be the reason someone seeks Jesus this season, by loving others well. Take it all in…the good, bad and even the tough stuff, and tuck it away. God uses all the things to teach us and to draw us nearer to Him. Abide in Him and know true peace.
Love and blessing to all my friends this HalloThankMas!!

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
A Time for Everything
​ 3 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.