Life and death are in the power of our words. Let us use our words to speak life into others by sincerely giving them encouragement. The word “encourage” literally means to give strength to the heart. When we use our words to strengthen rather than diminish, we not only lift up the hearts of others, but we ourselves are uplifted. If we spew out negativity through our words, we bring ourselves down as well as those we hurt. How will you use your words today?
If we have the perfect gifts for everyone in our family and fill their stockings to the brim, but are angry and rude to those around us, we miss the greatest gift of all – love. And if our house looks perfect and we have the best decorations in the neighborhood, yet speak unkindly to others or gossip behind their backs, we’ve missed the most beautiful decoration of the season – love.
We may be busy, but we can always be loving in how we interact with others. Let’s look for ways to demonstrate God’s love through patience, compassion and mercy. Let’s shine the light of His love through our kind words, sincere smile and thoughtful actions, for this is truly how we celebrate Jesus and reflect His character.
Laughter is good medicine. Whether you burn the turkey, or re-gift the same gift to the person who gave it to you last year, or don’t finish the Christmas cards until Dec 27th – you have a choice in the way you respond. When frustrations happen, you can fall apart and declare, “Everything is going wrong!” Or you can laugh and see the humor in life.
Certainly there are times when we need to cry and grieve, but there are also times when we need to let out a good hearty guffaw.
Keep the laughter flowing throughout the holidays with funny movies, games, playing in snow or simply telling old stories. Remember, never laugh at another person’s expense. Laughter should elevate others’ hearts, not hurt them. Be deliberate about choosing laughter during this season and throughout the year.
Sometimes I hear people say, “If only I can just survive the holidays…” Well, I suggest we choose a different perspective. Let’s choose to THRIVE during the holidays, rather than simply surviving them. Yes, I know there is added stress during this time of year, but it is up to us to decide to have an attitude of love and strength, rather than defeat. We can ask God each day to direct our steps and give us the strength and wisdom we need to face the challenges of the day. We can also ask Him to love through us in a powerful way to bless others. Thrive in the power of His Spirit.
As the Christmas season moves forward at a rapid pace, let’s be intentional about taking some time of reflection with our family and friends. Reflect on favorite and happy Christmas memories. Reflect of some of the hilarious gifts you have given or received over the years. Reflect on your favorite Christmas movies or recipes. Reflect on God’s blessings from the past year. Reflect on His faithfulness. One thing to stop reflecting on is past hurts and mistakes. Choose to reflect on what is good, and choose to forget the frustrations.
Positive Woman Connection 