Opinion > Star Staff
Help for 'The Holidays'
By Leslie Wilson, Reality Motherhood
Sometimes it feels like we need to buckle up as we hurtle toward Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's at warp speed.
Does just the thought of it strike fear into your heart and mind -- as you consider the hundreds of extra tasks you must perform, and perform well, before each of those important days? It doesn't have to be that way.
Anne Mateer, historical fiction author and my critique partner for 10 years, and I have teamed up to write a holiday devotional. The ebook, available for download at Amazon, called One Thousand Gift Receipts: A Holi-Devo contains daily inspiration from the week before Thanksgiving through the day after New Year's.
Here's a sample:
Faith Is like a Box of Chocolates:
You Never Know What You're Gonna Get
Who doesn't love Forrest? Forrest Gump, with his decidedly precise speech and bumblingly winsome ways? I'll never forget watching the movie classic when it first came out in theaters. Like everyone else, I cheered for Forrest as he sprinted down the football field, cried when Jenny left him yet again and railed against the system that caused Bubba's death and Leutenant Dan's amputation. I wished Jenny could realize what she had in the doting Forrest. I admired Forrest's patriotic and unwavering commitment to God, country, friends and ping-pong. I chuckled at his naiveté, amazed he didn't get hurt or killed for his ignorance. And I sobbed as he cared for Mama, Jenny, and then, finally, young Forrest.
The world gained a wonderful new catch phrase from the movie: "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Forrest's mama often repeated the phrase to him -- presumably attempting to explain life's unpredictability.
As we approach the holidays -- and the upcoming whirlwind of activity -- I think this phrase suits the occasion. Though we don't know what we're going to get, we can always rely on faith to get us through. Some folks will have their best Thanksgiving and Christmas ever. They'll celebrate with family and friends the blessings from the past year. They'll exchange gifts, stories and myriad hugs and kisses. Peace will reign, and joy will permeate their festivities.
Others will simply endure. Because of the circumstances of the past year, they dread pending interactions, questions, or, worse, silence. Some have buried loved ones this year. Others have seen their marriages or families crumble and felt powerless to stop the freight train hurtling toward them. Still others witnessed financial crisis or a move to an unfamiliar place. They've clung to faith like a life preserver -- indeed, that's what is has been to them.
Whether your year has been amazing or awful, nothing that's happened has gone unnoticed by the God of the universe. Your heavenly Father has witnessed every stellar or terrible moment. And He's remained close by. He's shielded you, celebrated with you, comforted you, interceded for you, and loved you through it all.
We might not know what we're going to get. But we get it alongside our powerful God. As long as we have faith.
I hope One Thousand Gift Receipts encourages and blesses you through the holiday season!
Author/speaker Leslie Wilson just released a new ebook: One Thousand Gift Receipts: The Holi-Devo. Check it out on Amazon. She also blogs at www.lesliewilson.com. Follow her on Twitter @LesliePWilson or like her Facebook fan page: Leslie Wilson.
Does just the thought of it strike fear into your heart and mind -- as you consider the hundreds of extra tasks you must perform, and perform well, before each of those important days? It doesn't have to be that way.
Anne Mateer, historical fiction author and my critique partner for 10 years, and I have teamed up to write a holiday devotional. The ebook, available for download at Amazon, called One Thousand Gift Receipts: A Holi-Devo contains daily inspiration from the week before Thanksgiving through the day after New Year's.
Here's a sample:
Faith Is like a Box of Chocolates:
You Never Know What You're Gonna Get
Who doesn't love Forrest? Forrest Gump, with his decidedly precise speech and bumblingly winsome ways? I'll never forget watching the movie classic when it first came out in theaters. Like everyone else, I cheered for Forrest as he sprinted down the football field, cried when Jenny left him yet again and railed against the system that caused Bubba's death and Leutenant Dan's amputation. I wished Jenny could realize what she had in the doting Forrest. I admired Forrest's patriotic and unwavering commitment to God, country, friends and ping-pong. I chuckled at his naiveté, amazed he didn't get hurt or killed for his ignorance. And I sobbed as he cared for Mama, Jenny, and then, finally, young Forrest.
The world gained a wonderful new catch phrase from the movie: "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Forrest's mama often repeated the phrase to him -- presumably attempting to explain life's unpredictability.
As we approach the holidays -- and the upcoming whirlwind of activity -- I think this phrase suits the occasion. Though we don't know what we're going to get, we can always rely on faith to get us through. Some folks will have their best Thanksgiving and Christmas ever. They'll celebrate with family and friends the blessings from the past year. They'll exchange gifts, stories and myriad hugs and kisses. Peace will reign, and joy will permeate their festivities.
Others will simply endure. Because of the circumstances of the past year, they dread pending interactions, questions, or, worse, silence. Some have buried loved ones this year. Others have seen their marriages or families crumble and felt powerless to stop the freight train hurtling toward them. Still others witnessed financial crisis or a move to an unfamiliar place. They've clung to faith like a life preserver -- indeed, that's what is has been to them.
Whether your year has been amazing or awful, nothing that's happened has gone unnoticed by the God of the universe. Your heavenly Father has witnessed every stellar or terrible moment. And He's remained close by. He's shielded you, celebrated with you, comforted you, interceded for you, and loved you through it all.
We might not know what we're going to get. But we get it alongside our powerful God. As long as we have faith.
I hope One Thousand Gift Receipts encourages and blesses you through the holiday season!
Author/speaker Leslie Wilson just released a new ebook: One Thousand Gift Receipts: The Holi-Devo. Check it out on Amazon. She also blogs at www.lesliewilson.com. Follow her on Twitter @LesliePWilson or like her Facebook fan page: Leslie Wilson.
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