Now is the time in which we begin to organize our wallets and schedule events in our calendars for the busy “holiday season”. Yes, it starts this month with Thanksgiving and all the preparations for the wonderful meal that brings family and friends together. It’s a time in which we are to give gratitude for the things we have received. As you well know that Christmas is right on the heels of Thanksgiving and if we aren’t careful, the retail market will let us forget being thankful as they crowd the aisles with Christmas decorations and gift giving ideas. Many have already begun shopping and making their plans so they won’t feel the crunch and stress in December.
You may be saying,” I don’t feel like being thankful nor do I even want to see a Christmas tree.” That is often the case while you are experiencing grief and loss. You realize that the void of that loved one robs you of fully feeling the excitement as you once did. I encourage you to make the choice of allowing this season to remember wonderful memories of your loved one and to make new memories with those you still have with you and of giving thanks for the time you spent or are spending with them. Choose to look at the positive things rather than the negative things.
Did you know that the average life expectancy was 20-35 years in most of the world’s history? And much of that was spent in disease, poverty, and misery?
Pull out the recipes and make that favorite dish or ask a daughter or friend to assist you with this task while you share the memories and times past. It’s okay to talk about your loved one and to laugh at the crazy events of past and present as family joins together to celebrate thanks.
Do we truly know how to show gratitude and do we truly express our gratitude, as we should? Our lives have been so busy and so filled with emotion, adjustments, and duties. This season is a chance to determine that we will be more active in expressing our thanks and gratitude to those around us. First we can begin by thanking God. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). Take time to sit quietly with God each day sharing thanks and accepting His comfort. Set a time each day and make it a part of your routine.
Secondly, thank those around you. Thank those who have stood by your side, invited you to enter in, pushed you to continue. It could be gentle thanks spoken or a quick card written to express how you feel. Thank them for the love they have displayed to you. Don’t forget the agencies, or businesses that have also been a blessing to you. Thanks for simply “being there”. When is the last time someone thanked you? Thought so, we just don’t say it enough!
Thirdly, Acknowledge thanks! Acknowledge blessings! Acknowledge gifts! Allow yourself to accept those positive things directed to you. Allow yourself to be the one someone else is giving thanks for. Be!
I look forward to seeing you at our next Journey’s meeting. We will continue our talk on gratitude and we will take a relaxing ride through Bertie County narrated by Cecil Lowe, a lifetime resident. We will lunch at the historical Seagull Café. If you’ve never eaten there it is a treat of our area. The pies are homemade by Delores Forehand. Those pies are delightful. Chocolate or lemon meringue that stands tall and the flavors are perfect. You will want to bring a whole pie back to your family or order one for your Thanksgiving meal (this is smart and stress free)!
Looking forward to time with you and yes, I’m thankful for You!
Joy Phillips, Bereavement Counselor
NOTE: Journeys will meet at Carpenter’s Shop Church in Ahoskie at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009. We will depart for the Seagull Café’ at 10:15 AM.
Please call to get your name on the list.
You may be saying,” I don’t feel like being thankful nor do I even want to see a Christmas tree.” That is often the case while you are experiencing grief and loss. You realize that the void of that loved one robs you of fully feeling the excitement as you once did. I encourage you to make the choice of allowing this season to remember wonderful memories of your loved one and to make new memories with those you still have with you and of giving thanks for the time you spent or are spending with them. Choose to look at the positive things rather than the negative things.
Did you know that the average life expectancy was 20-35 years in most of the world’s history? And much of that was spent in disease, poverty, and misery?
Pull out the recipes and make that favorite dish or ask a daughter or friend to assist you with this task while you share the memories and times past. It’s okay to talk about your loved one and to laugh at the crazy events of past and present as family joins together to celebrate thanks.
Do we truly know how to show gratitude and do we truly express our gratitude, as we should? Our lives have been so busy and so filled with emotion, adjustments, and duties. This season is a chance to determine that we will be more active in expressing our thanks and gratitude to those around us. First we can begin by thanking God. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). Take time to sit quietly with God each day sharing thanks and accepting His comfort. Set a time each day and make it a part of your routine.
Secondly, thank those around you. Thank those who have stood by your side, invited you to enter in, pushed you to continue. It could be gentle thanks spoken or a quick card written to express how you feel. Thank them for the love they have displayed to you. Don’t forget the agencies, or businesses that have also been a blessing to you. Thanks for simply “being there”. When is the last time someone thanked you? Thought so, we just don’t say it enough!
Thirdly, Acknowledge thanks! Acknowledge blessings! Acknowledge gifts! Allow yourself to accept those positive things directed to you. Allow yourself to be the one someone else is giving thanks for. Be!
I look forward to seeing you at our next Journey’s meeting. We will continue our talk on gratitude and we will take a relaxing ride through Bertie County narrated by Cecil Lowe, a lifetime resident. We will lunch at the historical Seagull Café. If you’ve never eaten there it is a treat of our area. The pies are homemade by Delores Forehand. Those pies are delightful. Chocolate or lemon meringue that stands tall and the flavors are perfect. You will want to bring a whole pie back to your family or order one for your Thanksgiving meal (this is smart and stress free)!
Looking forward to time with you and yes, I’m thankful for You!
Joy Phillips, Bereavement Counselor
NOTE: Journeys will meet at Carpenter’s Shop Church in Ahoskie at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009. We will depart for the Seagull Café’ at 10:15 AM.
Please call to get your name on the list.
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