What can you do when when the Holidays are not so happy for you? You are probably like me in that we have experienced both happiness and sadness during this festive time through the years. Sometimes we can’t wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas to get here and other times we struggle just to get through them because other difficult circumstances going on in our lives. Here are some helpful tips I have discovered to keep in mind that can help…

THERE IS ALWAYS A REASON TO BE THANKFUL

Charles Dickens, the author of the Christmas classic “A Christmas Carol”, gave this advice …”Reflect upon your present blessings, of which everyone has many, not your misfortunes, of which everyone has some.” We need to be thankful for what we do have and not be obsessed in our thinking about what we don’t have right now. That is such a key to maintaining a good attitude.

DO WHAT YOU CAN

I really like a song that that has been popular as we have been experiencing and going through the Covid 19 Pandemic. It is “Do What You Can” recorded by Bon Jovi and Jennifer Neetles. The chorus lyrics are: “Around here, we bend but we don’t break. Down here, we all understand when you can’t do what you do…you do as you can.” That is a good message for us today. We all need what we can each day, to take care of ourselves and help others.

MAKE GOD’S PRESENCE A PART OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE

That is what happen that very first Christmas when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. God sent His Son, Jesus to be our Savior. We need Him today just as much as the world needed Him then. Jesus was also called “Emanuel” which means “God is with us.” My favorite verse in the Bible is Psalm 68:13 which states “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” Think about that for a moment. God is not only our Savior, He also wants to help us every single day. What a wonderful gift that God has given young me, the gift of His presence in our daily lives. Now that is something to be happy about and to celebrate, especially this season…