The fragrance of fresh cut Christmas trees, sounds of laughter from the party house, chilly scenes of winter wonderlands. These are the sensory experiences we’ve come to expect of the Christmas season.
My own house appears to be merry and bright too as I’ve trimmed the tree most carefully and gone room-to-room preparing for guests. But even with all the glitter of the Season my heart hurts.
It’s been a rough year for many of my friends and family. A dear friend’s loss of her only sister, too soon, too young; a precious family watching as their husband and father battles cancer, all the time believing for his healing; the unexpected loss of a job; alcohol addiction; depression; mental illness; friendships broken; people of faith who have walked completely walked away from their long held beliefs; and marriages ended while young children are left crying for their daddy.
As you know, I haven’t been here on the blog much lately. I love to make people laugh and smile. I love to offer hope to those who have no hope because God has done so much to change my life and I know that if He can do it for me He can do it for anyone. He can do it for you. But for the first time ever I’ve felt like I have nothing to write, nothing to give back to my readers for their faithfulness in coming here regularly to read my words.
In slight admonition, Mr. OTN said to me the other evening, “How can we NOT share our hope with others when it is what causes us to most come alive?” Yes, we know through experience that when we give ourselves to others, even when our own hearts are hurting, God blesses us with such joy that we have even more to give.
Yet this year, a year of great pain within my own family, it is that very sharing of our hope with the many that has caused such anger to erupt within those who are closest to my heart. How do I prove to someone that I love them more than any of the people we’ve reached out to in the past? How do I continue to reach out to others when it causes such feelings of jealousy in those I love the most?
The pain ebbs and flows within this heart of mine due to hard happenings within my own family, and when I hurt deeply, nearly every day, I feel like I have little to give. Then God reminds me that the giving doesn’t have to be BIG. I can give in little ways. I give back when I am faithful to pray for the many who’ve asked me to keep them upheld through tough times. I give back when I make our home a refuge for my hard working husband. I give back even in the decorating of our home for Christmas to make it warm and inviting for those who are coming for the holidays.
Yesterday I watched my elderly dog Cozy slide off her bed, feet splayed out around her on the hardwood floor as she tried to stand and I was reminded of when she was just a little puppy learning to stand and walk.
“Cozy, it’s been 16 years since you were just a pup. How did you come so soon to this place of failing health?”
Tears fell as I thought of how quickly life passes by.
I cannot waste a moment of my God-given allotment of time.
Even if I am not being used in big ways I will give what I can. A card, a hug, a text, a call. A message to you my beloved readers.
I have great hope in God. No matter what the circumstances, no matter what it looks like around me, I know that He is with me every step of the way.
“Hope builds faith. Faith trusts that God still moves and that He is good.” – Pastor Jeremy Havlin
Prayer: Father God, please be with each one who reads this post and bless them richly this Christmas season and beyond. If any are lacking hope please show them that their only hope is in You. Not in the provision, not in the healing of relationships, not in the whatever . . . but ONLY IN YOU. You are enough and in You we have everything we need. Amen.
And now, because I want to share this awesome new Bible by Joni Eareckson Tada with one of you, here is the Giveaway. There are three ways to enter and the more ways you enter the more chances you have of winning. 1. Answer a question 2. Follow me on Twitter (I’d love for you to follow me here too but that isn’t a requirement. 3. Tweet about the Giveaway. Let’s go!:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and may the JOY of the Lord be your strength this Christmas!
Blessings to you dear friends,
I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace
Monday:
IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired, InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStoryMaking Your Home Sing Mondays, The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking,SmallWonder, LifeGivingLinkup, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends
Tuesday:
TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles, Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story, IntentionalTuesday
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, TheBlissfulBee, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, ChristianBloggerLinkup, Whole Hearted Home, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday
Thursday:
ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner, PrettyPreppyParty, The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop, I Choose Joy, Live Free Thursday, Thought Provoking Thursday, PartyAtMyPlace, 100HappyDays, SincerelyPaulas, ThankfulThursdays
Friday:
FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration, Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents, SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet
Patti, So sorry to hear of the hardship and pain your family has endured this year. So many things ring familiar to me. I just prayed for you and your loved ones. Loving 2 Corinthians 4:16.
I would love to win this Bible because suffering is something I’m so familiar with. Chronic health problems, abuse, family issues, loved ones aging, loss, watching loved ones’ struggles. But all of it knowing who God is and where hope is to be found. Joni Eareckson Tada’s writing has been God-timed and used in my life often, and I would cherish having it so closely tied to His Word through this Bible!
Thanks for sharing hope, Patti, and giving the opportunity to pray for you!
Patti, sighing a big sigh here at my desk. I felt every ounce of your sorrow and pain in this post. This won’t be the “best” Christmas our family has ever had but it won’t be the worst either. There are empty places, missing faces and that grieves my heart deeply. But HE will be there – our Three Best Friends: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and they bring me much comfort. They bring me HOPE and the belief there will be better times ahead.
I am blessed that our lives crossed and we have broken bread together. I look forward to doing that again in 2017. Never ever lose Hope my friend. xo
Christmas HOPE, from my HEART, to your HOME.
I’m praying for you Patti! I love how you shared your heart but pointed us back to the hope found in Jesus. I know that in my own mess it is this hope that sees me through. Christmas blessings to you and yours
Oh dear Patti I know how difficult life can seem at times at yet we soldier on as God walks beside us. I must remind myself often that God never promised us it would be easy only that He would see us through. As we prepare to celebrate the greatest gift mankind has ever received, our Lord Jesus, may God offer you peace and love to sustain you during hard times. Please know that your words make a difference and your readers are touched by what you share.
I would love to have this Bible i need one and have no job at the moment to buy one. Thanks you for giving us the opportunity to win one.
This post must have been written for me. Today as I drove to the cemetery to check on the flowers on my parents’ graves, the Hospice Express van was unloading supplies at a friend’s home. I am so sad as she has fought hard and I mean hard for the past 4 1/2 years and this nasty disease has finally defeated her. My prayer is for her to pass quickly and peacefully and your post again reminded me as how great He is and reminded me that my faith and hers will carry us throuh this rough, sad time. Merry Christmas and God’s blessings.
This has been a difficult year for so many people and actually our entire country. But, there is so much joy too.
Yesterday I had 3 friends join me for a tea party at my home. We all worked together at a middle school and only one is still working. We had heard that another colleague was in the ICU and has been since Thanksgiving. He has not family or good friends living locally. So, we had Steve take a picture of us and sent it to him. He texted back that he was out of ICU and could have visitors. We got up in the middle of our tea, prepared a box and took him “tea”. He was so happy to have someone visit him.
While we were there, the talked turned a bit negative about the state of the world today and I stopped everyone. I asked who remembered Gabriel ___. Of course they all did. We taught in a poverty ridden ghetto school and we didn’t see many kids succeed. Well, I told them that Gabriel is in his second year at Harvard Medical School. He made it out of the ghetto.
I share that story because the bad gets so much press and time in our thoughts, but each little thing adds up to the fact that this is a pretty wonderful world.
The link below is in Instagram pic that is prevalent in my town. Steve snapped a similar photo and put it on Facebook, but Erin Kathleen seemed to catch it the very best with last night’s sunset and afterglow.
The man who made the nativity scene does other rock formations, but this one is capturing everyone’s heart this season.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOSlm35jT8j/?taken-by=erinkathleen22
Merry Christmas
I love Joni…and if anyone ever had a reason to feel sorry for herself, she surely did. But what an amazing witness she became. She understands suffering, but is able to love and help others in spite of her circumstances. I don’t have a study bible, and I would love to have this one. My heart is for the elderly, but I think this bible would be helpful for all ages. Thanks for the opportunity to win it!
Hi Patti, I am sorry that you have had a difficult year! I will keep you in my prayers dear friend. Life is not always bliss or fair, but there is so much to thankful for! Look for the sunshine on the other side of the dark mountain. God is there for you and I know that you know that! Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
hugs,
Jann
Patti, what a gift it is to hear your voice again here in this place! Thank you for finding courage to reach out in this time of suffering — and of bearing the suffering of those you love.
This world sure is not heaven. Thankfully this is not our final destination. Thanks for sharing. Blessings to you!
Patti,
Oh how I love the words here! I realize that sharing words in our blogging community is often more difficult when we feel we don’t have much to share, but I have to believe that’s when you’re needed the most — WE need YOU and your words and hard-pressed thoughts and you need us — to walk with you, encourage you and hope alongside you. Patti, your beautiful photos are exquisite (as always) and I’m praying with you for 2017 to usher in peace, more helpings of joy and an abundance of love from God and from us — your blogging friends — to you! Merry Christmas! xoxo
Patti, This really blessed me, thanks. I could say I feel the same as you and pray the coming year is a better one for us all.
Hugs to that sweet pup and Merry Christmas.
Thank you for persevering. This is so good and much needed. I really enjoy your posts – all of them. I love you, Patti!