My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. It always has been, and it always will be. I like this holiday because there is a focus on the family. Love is born again in the form of the presence of others and just being together.

You know what else I like about Thanksgiving? Leftovers. There is always plenty of Turkey. My wife’s mashed potatoes are out of this world. The stuffing is always awesome, and I love the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition my Aunt taught me so well. Blend it all together because it all ends up in the same place!

I love Thanksgiving because it is simple. Expectations are a normal part of thinking. In the case of Thanksgiving, expectations are relatively low. It is just being together, sharing a meal and having fellowship. In this, gratitude seeps out from us into others. Love is the reason and it is present in your fellowship. Does it really matter what you do as long as you are together?

Thanksgiving is about being grateful and giving your gratitude to others in the form of love through your presence.

Other than Thanksgiving Leftovers, Thanksgiving is over, and everyone has moved to looking towards Christmas. It’s a different scene. The stores have been trying to capture your money since before Halloween and the expectations have skyrocketed.

The way I see it, there are 3 types of Christmas. Secular Christmas and a Christian Christmas. Often, many Christians blend the two together to create a third type of Christmas. Jesus and Santa are an example of a blended Christian Secular Christmas. I admit, I have been trapped in the “blended Christmas” and I don’t know how to get out.

Look out!

Here comes my Grinchy Gripes!

In my truth, as we move closer to Christmas, this time of year is a struggle for me. As the days continue to get shorter and day light is limited, my body and mind struggle to not shut down and give into bipolar depression. While my bipolar is usually about going up, this time of year is when depression is the loudest. Because after all, what goes up must come down. Expectations of the Christmas holiday hype creep inside me and soar after Thanksgiving. Before I can even get to all of that, first is my daughter’s birthday on the 19^th. Then my wife’s birthday on the 21^st. Then Christmas and New Year’s Eve are on the plate. All this, why my body is saying shut down. Then before you know it, Valentines days is here, and the expectations start again. Expectations of others is what truly gripes me at Christmas. And If I am honest, money I am expected to spend to meet other’s expectations tops the list for my Christmas grumble. Ok, so there you have my Grinchy gripes!

How do I get beyond these gripes? It is a move of ballads – Grace

Today I got a phone call from a guy in my 12-step program. You know what his struggle was? Same as mine. Upcoming Christmas Holiday melancholy. The conversation went like this: We shared our gripes and difficulties with each other. Then we asked the question. How do we get out of this space? First, was gratitude that our common ground is what brought us together. Acceptance and identification of each other’s space was part of the conversation. We talked about changing our attitude and then most importantly: What is the solution?

The peace we gain from sharing our struggles with others is the beginning of the HOPE. It is the mustard seed that we can hold on to and grow. IF WE CHOOSE.

Attitude adjustment:

Jesus is the reason for the season. There are lots of traditions both Christian and Secular that provide the provision of LOVE. Love is the root of it ALL. God’s LOVE.    

Here is my Christmas Cheer!

Jesus was sent to be the perfect relationship that we long for. There is no other relationship like the one we can hold with our Jesus. When we are in the flesh we get trapped in the “blended Christmas.” Here is my 12 step 12 days of Christmas plan to get out of the mine.

1. This year as Christmas approaches, my preparation must include as the base of the tree the gratitude I hold as Leftovers from Thanksgiving.
2. Understanding that even secular celebration of Christmas without Christ is one of two loving testaments of the seed of hope.
3. Import faith, hope and love daily in place of my Gaul.
4. Call upon my brothers and sisters to help me stay focused on the reason for the season.
5. Remember that money represents royalty of God’s Gift of Jesus.
6. Swimming in the preparation of the Gift is much easier than trudging.
7. Keeping a Christian focus on the preparation of the coming of Jesus will provide the laying of peace required to live Joy.
8. Milking my attitude of gratitude from Thanksgiving Leftovers!
9. Dancing in the hustle and bustle takes me to the real Fruit.
10. It is a giant leap to always remember to love God and love one another when you’re stuck in the holiday flesh!
11. I must pipe up when I feel negative to keep the Faith.
12. Please let me beat that drum of Love into my Heart this Christmas season.

And there you have it!  

Thanksgiving Leftovers as we countdown to Christmas!