There was a time, not so long ago (at least it doesn’t seem that way), when I would gingerly make my way down the stairs on Christmas morning to see what Santa had left behind. There was always a tinge of concern that there might not be anything. I would weigh the “naughty” versus “nice” moments from the previous year as I descended into the living room. I am happy to say that Santa never disappointed….
These days, that
same anticipation has transitioned into watching my grandkids tear the wrapping
from their gifts. And there’s never any need to weigh the "good" versus "bad" moments. Because as any grandparent will tell you, grandchildren are the
perfect angels and could never do anything wrong. 😊
As I take a little
quiet time for myself this morning, I look forward to the busy day ahead. Tina
is preparing to wake up to her latest birthday (I won’t tell you the actual
number because that would definitely fall into the naughty category). Sharing
a birthday celebration with a guy named Jesus Christ is a lot to handle. So, I’d
better make sure that I have a fresh pot of coffee waiting for her when she makes
her way downstairs.
Christmas is a
great time for reflection. This will be the first year that we’ll be
celebrating the holiday without Tina’s mom, Evelyn. And it’s also our first Christmas
without my beloved cousin and mentor, Virginia. While they have left this
earth, they remain with us in spirt as we regularly relive all the great
moments that made them so special. And today will be no different.
No doubt, it’s
been a challenging year in many ways. But as we prepare for Christmas Day and move into the New Year, try to focus on the positive things in your life.
Nothing is guaranteed in life, so don’t take things for granted. When you
gather with family and friends later, take a moment to appreciate them. And don’t
leave any compliments or endearments on the table. Tell people how you feel
about them now.
I’ve found that
being kind to people is one of the main keys to happiness. Not only do you have
the potential change a person’s day, but through a random act of
kindness you can also change a person’s life. These can be the simplest
things. If you see someone without a smile, give them yours. There’s no telling
where things could go from there…
I recently
heard a rather profound statement. It went something like this...”Anger is the
punishment that we give ourselves for other people’s mistakes.” Think about that
for a minute…
As you celebrate
this special day, please keep our troops and first responders in your thoughts.
And take a moment to remember Officer Keona Holley of the Baltimore City Police
Department. She was senselessly gunned down while on duty last week. May she
rest in peace and may her family find the strength to get through this
difficult time.
In closing, I’d
like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. And thank you for being a part
of my life…
kw
No comments:
Post a Comment