A Cure for the Holiday "Woe, Woe, Woes"
As I was sitting in church this Sunday, I was feeling a case of the "Woe, Woe, Woes" instead of the "Ho, Ho, Hos" that I am SUPPOSED to be feeling this time of year.
The holidays are not a happy time for everyone. It's been a tough year for some of us. We've lost loved ones or are dealing with an illness; our companies have "restructured" and we're now looking for a new job while still trying to make ends meet. Maybe the holidays are simply a reminder of how lonely we are.
As my pastor pointed out, HAPPiness is circumstantial- something that depends on your surroundings and what is HAPPening around you at the time. You really don't have any control over it.
But JOY! Joy is found within. It is something we can carry with us, even through the storms. JOY is a renewable resource. The more you give away, the more you have! And it just keeps coming!
So how do I get ahold of some of this so-called JOY?
THAT - my friend - is something I am excited to share with you today :D
You get joy by giving. Giving what? Whatever you can!
I am just about to start a new job and I don't have a dime to my name, which is partly why I was feeling so down at church. It was "Legacy Sunday" where we give a special offering that all goes towards missions in the community, country and world. It's something I usually save up for and get really excited to participate in because I feel that I am helping to make a big difference in a lot of people's lives. This year- I didn't have any money to contribute to the Legacy Offering.
But I do have ideas and words of encouragement- and administrative access to this blog! (At least for now! lol) And as my pastor spoke directly to me, he helped me realize that maybe I can make a few people's days a little brighter with these things. The thought of it made me... joyful!
What do YOU have that you can give to others to make their (and your) day a little brighter? A smile? A word of encouragement? A donation to a charitable organization? Time and attention? You will be surprised just how much joy can be created with such a small act of kindness.
If we ALL do a little, TOGETHER- we can do a lot!
