Coming out of the Sleep of Christmas

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Perhaps, you are like me.

You’d prefer if Christmas stayed a while.

Those things that made you laugh;

the things that made you smile.

You cry out, “I want to hibernate like a bear.

Stay in this space of a sleepy serenity.”

We long for a more peaceful life.

We’ve had three years of strife.

Sadness lingers in the back of our minds.

There is the threat of war in Ukraine.

Several million people have died of CoVid.

We don’t want to look at the gloomy statistics.

It’s too real.

It hurts too much.

It’s a reminder of the uncertainty of our lives.

The stark realities can bring us down into despair.

Oh, that we could go to sleep until it’s over!

We would awake to a world where CoVid is a memory,

But, our responsibilities drag us back, where we don’t want at times to go.

Is there any way out of this path the world is on?

There are things we can do.

It will help get us through.

Hold on to those you love.

Cling close to them.

Enjoy the blessing of their presence.

Get up each day asking questions like these:
What can I do to be there for others?

How can I lighten someone’s load?

How can I show others how loved and valued they are?
Is there someone who needs guidance to find their life’s direction?

In all the stress of our lives, we can lose our focus.

There is a way out of the fog,

but we must be committed to it.

We can get people back on track.

It may be a new journey that brings the people you help to a happier life.

It could be a change in their careers.

They may take a course or program to develop a skill.

It might be studying something new for the sheer joy of learning.

Let us take the time to thank dedicated health care professionals.

Many doctors, nurses, PSWS, have left the profession or gone into areas where there isn’t direct patient care.
They have sacrificed much to keep us healthy as possible.

Give them your gratitude for a job well done.

They have seen things none of us want to.

Images of the suffering will remain in their memories.
Imagine for a moment the helplessness they felt that in spite of all their efforts, many have died of CoVid.
But let us not forget that many have survived because of them.

Yes, part of me would like to stay asleep — be cocooned, kept safe, caressed, and held forever in Karen’s arms.

Love for others calls me out of my comfy bed.

In all honesty don’t we want the best of life,

and throw out the worst?

Life is messy.

It has the good;

it has the bad.

There are times we will be glad;

other times we will be sad.

The older I get the more I understand life’s not about busyness.

It’s about people.

It’s about caring.

It’s about sharing what we have.

Material things can bog us down.

Ask yourself as I do, “Do I own things or do they own me?”

I’m challenged by the question.
It’s time to let go of more things that were part of my life, but aren’t any longer.

The stuff we collect can make us lose sight of the purpose of every life.

Make other people’s lives better for your presence.

Don’t live life without taking time to reflect upon why you are here.

When you need to go to the sanctuary of your home,

do those things that renew you.

When you go to sleep try to turn off those pesky to-do lists.

They can wait until tomorrow.

I’m not always successful at that, but I don’t give up.

This makes the restoration of my body, mind, and spirit more productive.

Often, Karen and I wonder, “Where is that off switch?”
If you know how to find it, please let us know.

Christmas is a memory, but it can go on inside of us.

Its flame can inspire us to be more loving and giving people.
Then, we can go back to sleep wrapped under the covers for a while longer.

There may be times you need some scream therapy.

Just go outside or somewhere private and let it out.
Cry.
Shout.
Express all that is bottled up deep inside.

Acknowledge your terror.

Don’t push it down.
If you can’t get past how you feel, please speak to those you trust about it —

your spouse, a friend, a family member, those who know you well.

If you feel yourself spiraling into depression, please get professional help.

It takes strength of character to admit you can’t get make it alone.

We all need help at some time in our lives.

Do your best to be a light in the darkness of other people’s lives.

That’s the most any of us can do.

I’m a sinner saved by grace teaching others how to find it.