A Simple Christmas Idea

A simple Christmas idea isn’t a DIY project for me this year. It is just an idea, a philosophy if you will. I’ve had it on my heart to make this year a Simple Christmas. Christmas shouldn’t have to be expensive to be enjoyable or significant. It should focus on Jesus and being “present” to one another. It’s my goal to keep Christmas simple this year with a focus on presence, not presents. However,  I’m not advocating being a scrooge. I know that there will naturally be enough material things that just go along with the season and that’s OK; it’s good and we are blessed. It’s not about quarantining Christmas by eliminating every material thing that is a part of it.

Rather, it’s about remembering the point. Jesus came into this world to redeem all of creation.  So there is no point in getting all jumbled up by to do lists and stressing out trying to make everything perfect, because as long there is Jesus then Christmas will be complete. It’s about making memories and having Jesus as the focus of our celebrations.

When Presence is in our Hearts

Family is another important ingredient for a simple Christmas. But as a military spouse, I know that family can’t always be together. I’m grateful that our soldier can be with us this year for Christmas and am praying for all those who are far from home or whose loved ones can’t be with them. For even though they are not physically together they are always present to each other in their hearts. Make those phone calls that need to be made as Christmas approaches and say the things which need to be said, even if over the phone.

Make Homemade Gifts, Goodies, and Decorations for a Simple Christmas

One practical way to have a simple Christmas for me will be making a few things from scratch-using what I have. My children have always enjoyed this over the years. Collecting pine cones and decorating them, making homemade cinnamon ornaments and stringing popcorn and just using what we have for decorations. I’m going to try to abstain from buying new things this year. It will be hard but I wonder what new creative ideas will result?

Giving more than presents. Giving time and presence.

As moms we are busy. Crazy busy sometimes because we homeschool, have businesses, a home to run, ambitions to pursue, our families and ourselves to take care of, meals to plan –the list goes on. Now add Christmas to the mix. Do you see where I am going here? I don’t mean to be a hypocrite. I am the first to admit that I get too busy with my commitments and obligations to be truly present precisely at the moment when my kids or even my hubby wants my attention. I have to work at keeping my priorities in the right place. So you may not hear much from my blog in December as I try to apply being mindfully present to my children and spouse this Christmas. It’s a simple gift, it doesn’t cost anything. It’s my gift to them this year.

Jesus is on my list to be present to this year as well. I want to have a little time to pray better too. Who is on your “presence” list this year?

Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving approaching next week I want to put a little thought into being thankful.

I’m thankful too for the Lord pricking at my soul to make a conscious effort to have a simple Christmas this year and I am giving myself permission to do it. Today I am thankful for:

• time and having it to be generous with
• family recipes and traditions
• nature: holly, evergreen trees, snowflakes
• candles…I love candles
• warm sweatshirts just coming out of the dryer on a cold morning
• flowers that bloom indoors
• going home for Thanksgiving this year

What are you thankful for today? And how do you plan to celebrate Christmas this year? What special traditions do you have and what new ones do you want to begin?

The post Simple Christmas: It’s About Presence Not Presents appeared first on Dymphna's Song.

Is there really joy in trials?

It’s hard to see the joy in coming up against trials. Joy isn’t being happy about it though. It’s seeing the good even in difficulty and accepting it.

[tweetthis]Joy in trials? Joy isn’t being happy about it but seeing some good even in difficulty.[/tweetthis]

If it makes us better people;  humbler, kinder, more understanding, slower to anger, then it sets us aside as believers and followers of Christ. Being Christian doesn’t mean being perfect because if it did then none of us could ever claim to be one. God’s perfection is different than our own.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  ~James 2-6

How I deal with difficulty brings me closer to Christ.

It’s hard to know how to work through difficulty with friends, family, or coworkers. But it’s part of life and so we have to figure out how to do that in a godly way. It’s challenging. At least it is for me. It’s been a difficult week with my husband deployed and conflict after conflict to resolve with family, friends, and even acquaintances. I needed the Lord’s wisdom badly. I’ve had to humbly ask for people’s  forgiveness this week and to seek peaceful resolution sometimes resulting in what seemed like rejection. After prayer and asking for God’s help I realized that I have to be the person Jesus would want me to be and try every attempt to forgive and be forgiven. (Matthew 18:22)

You are never alone.

Some deeper reflection on last weeks gospel really brought some perspective to my battle.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin. ~Hebrews 12:1-4

It’s not that hard after reading those words, which we truly place our faith and trust in, to put own on hurt feeling aside and make peace. It puts some perspective on our situation, at least it did for me, and it helped me see that I had to be the one to say sorry and swallow my pride.

So this week I have many things to be grateful for:

• Joy. It’s part of God’s plan.
• My sister’s safety despite a highway accident- she walked away with only minor injuries.
• Forgiveness
• Absences that make the heart grown even fonder. Even after 22 years of marriage.
• Cucumbers, squash, peppers, onions, and tomatoes from my garden.
• A new wardrobe.
• The excitement and beginning of a new school year!
• Change
• Creativity and not being too boring.
• God’s wisdom, which He gives freely to those who ask for it.

Linked for: Thankful Thursday,

The post Consider it all Joy appeared first on Dymphna's Song.

Psalm 46:10

 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.

It really is important for me to settle down and just be. Preferably in prayer. To relax. But not like my lazy relaxed state, my aware relaxed mode. Time for contemplation if you will. This is an invaluable resource for me that I often forget to tap in to. If your anything like me, you forget too.

Eucharistic Adoration

It doesn’t matter how I do it. It can be formal prayer, adoration before the Blessed Sacrament (a Catholic devotion), even thoughts while cleaning, gardening or some other quiet activity. Just taking a break from the business of life.

Life can be so overwhelming at times and I just don’t feel that the Lord wants me to function that way. I know he wants me to have peace -so I must make time for peace. I must be actively seeking contemplation time in my life. I know that I can’t hear God’s “voice” to me unless I am quiet both in my words and inner thoughts. Adoration provides this for me.
Once I do that, once I slow down and open my heart to whatever direction the Lord leads me then everything seems more manageable. Clearer. I also find that I am more productive and less distracted. So for the next few days I am gonna take some extra time for slowing down.  I also will focus on positive thoughts. Because even though life always brings challenges, if I can make an effort to see how much good there truly is, it makes life so much more enjoyable even if things are difficult.
Speaking of, here’s my Gratitude list for the week:

• my husband being here right now
• this weekend is a four day weekend
• adoration
• the life of St. Agnes- wow- an amazing and inspiring saint
• time with my son
• our new deployment jar
• auditory learners: sometimes it’s nice not to have to write everything
• my daughter got a job
• girls night out
• not getting as much done as I want and being OK with it:)

Join me this weekend. Whatever is going on in your life this week, don’t let busyness have you. Rather, make it your business to invest in good and helpful thoughts.

Linked @ New Evangelist
Also Thankful for Lisa Hosting Here: Thankful Thursday

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