December 2007

T

his is the time of the year when society has lots of ideas about what we should do in order to make this year the best holiday season ever! But what happens if you don’t have the money for gifts, or the family and friends to celebrate with, or maybe that holiday feeling has just passed you by? What do you do if your “To Do” list is so long that it takes all the pleasure and anticipation out of your plans? Despite society’s expectations, this can be a tough and lonely time of year for many people, so why don’t we take a moment to acknowledge that and then begin to think about a different kind of list…a list that reminds us of where our joy and peace truly lie, a list that does not involve crowded shopping malls or wrapping paper or credit card bills. This “Wish List” is really a gift from you to you, made all the more special because it spills over on to others: it says that it’s okay to slow down, it’s good to laugh, it feels wonderful to express your appreciation for someone, it is refreshing to pray and to give thanks, it is healing to take a walk in God’s creation, it is energizing to just break loose and have some fun, it does your heart good to let your childlike enthusiasm show, it brings you joy to be nice-just plain nice- to yourself and to those around you. Remember that “nice” come in all sizes and shapes, to meet every need, do that no one feels left out!

“Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.”    - J. Petit-Senn