Goodness and Light

Quote of the Day:  from the song Do You Hear What I Hear
Said the King to the people everwhere,
"Listen to what I say."
Pray for peace, people everywhere,
listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child,
sleeping in the night,
He will bring us goodness and light

To hear Martina McBride sing this song of hope with an orchestra and choir, click on this Youtube video.

Here's a glimpse at what it looks like in Minnesota this week.  We don't need to just dream about a white Christmas.  This is nothing to what happened south of us.  The Minneapolis/St. Paul area was pounded with snow.  The Metrodome roof collapsed.  You might have heard about that on the news or seen the video.  OMG! The Vikings game had to be postponed and moved to Detriot. 

The good that happens from a hard knock by Mother Nature is that you quickly see neighbor helping neighbor.  The one with the snowblower helps out the ones who only have a shovel, and the ones with a shovel band together to make the work go faster. When my neice's car got stuck in the street, friends and strangers alike dug it out.

Snow is easier to handle than the subzero temps.  We wake up to the weatherman warning us that the thermometer reads negative 18 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill factor of minus 40.  We just want to stay under our flannel sheets and down comforters.  Who wants to go out in that!  We start to feel isolated.

Isolation is not good for me.  Add to that the short days and long dark nights and the increased illnesses that happen this time of year.  Well, it gets harder and harder to stay in a happy holiday mood.  I feel sad for my friend who's four-year-old son died this summer.  It's so hard for her this Christmas.  I feel sad for another friend who is recovering from an abusive relationship and worrying about her kids when they're with their dad.  I just learned that a friend of mine was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer.  I can hardly type that and not break down crying.  That sounds really scary.  She has a 12-year-old daughter and triplets who are seven (two girls and a boy).  She's been in our Mothers of Multiples group.  My age.

So, yesterday, I was getting cranky at Christmas.  What is helping me is being with people IRL (in real life).  Human contact with good people who care about those who might be having a blue Christmas.  Loving people who don't expect you to be happy just because it's the holidays.  And, nurturing people who shine light on those dark emotions.

If you're experiencing the dark days of December, know that you're not alone.  Reach out to others.  Look for the light.  "Do you hear what I hear?"  A child is born to bring us goodness and light.

Journey on, even through the cold and the dark.  Nothing ever stays the same.  Cling to the the promise of new life.

Journaling Prompt:  What are you feeling blue about this season?  How can you reach out to someone to find goodness and light?