JoyUs Musing
Edition #7-5 Xmas
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JESUS - THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
Tis the season... to be thankful! I mean, REALLY, REALLY thankful.
I was having a "tough" time of it - stressing over baking, cooking, shopping, wrapping, decorating, perfect
parties, and the "do we have enough gifts" attack. I was doing too much and overloading myself.
I sweated over making snacks for our snack night. I worried about the things I forgot to make and stressed
because I didn't feel appreciated that I spent so much time on the food and people ate like locusts then went
home without saying "thank you." I was exhausted and didn't even have time to enjoy the night.
I was developing a bad attitude for Christmas. I know others who were battling depression, wrong attitudes, and
having trouble being thankful this season, too.
Then this morning I got an email from a very dear friend. While I was slaving away over cooking and baking and
griping, she was with her oldest son in the hospital as he was fighting for his live. He'd been stabbed twice and
wasn't expected to live.
That most definitely jerked me up out of my self-absorption and stressing over non-important things. I was
worried I wasn't making enough goodies for snack night while she was worried about her son living through
surgery that night.
Thank God he is alive and able to be at her home for recovery. He has a way to go to be 100 percent whole, but
they have had the miracle of his life.
I received another email from my cousin whose husband has a non-cancerous pituitary tumor that is fairly big
and pressing on his optic nerve. They are spending their Christmas looking for a doctor they can trust to do the
surgery needed. They need a doctor who believes in preserving his pituitary gland as well as eyesight.
This isn't intended to be depressing. It is intended to change your focus so you won't stress this season over
non-vital things. There is so much to be thankful for and it is only when our focus is on those things that we can
enjoy the real meaning of Christmas.
I am asking that you set aside some time during your joyus celebrations and lift Lucas up in prayer for total
healing and to feel the touch of God on his life. Please take time to pray for Harry to be led to the doctor he
needs, and for wisdom, guidance, and healing.
So that's it for this Musing - when you begin to feel stressed over this season and worry about things that just
plain are not important, jerk yourself up and be thankful for the wonderful things you have. Remember that there
are very important things to celebrate during this season.
It's not how many gifts are under the tree. It isn't how much a gift costs. It isn't about the food or the parties. It is
about celebrating life - the life of our Savior, Jesus. The life He gave so we could be free, delivered, healed,
whole, safe, made whole, and protected (all meanings of the word "salvation").
Remember my friend's most important Christmas miracle - she didn't lose her son. Be thankful for that miracle
and believe with me for Harry's miracle. Be thankful for your loved ones and their health and safety.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Inspiration Copyright © 2007 Nan C Loyd
All rights reserved. Used by permission.