The main thing is that we use the season as an opportunity to improve our own self: as I see it, this is a time to reflect on our past and look to our future, as one year ends and another begins.
Some people will get to the end of this year and consider that it's been a good one; many people already consider 2016 to be a bad year, for personal reasons or for cultural reasons. Either way, we have the chance to put things in place in our own lives to create the best start for 2017. For me, as with most things in life, the best way to achieve this is balance.
We'll be making up a box to hand in to our local food bank (North Ayrshire here, UK here) but this doesn't prevent us from sending Christmas cards: the majority of our cards go to older relatives, particularly those not on Facebook who therefore can't read our online good wishes. The remainder of recipients are either too far away to keep in touch with regularly or else they're just too special to be bumped from the list. We then simply use a nominal sum to buy the supplies for the food bank. It's this balance that I try to maintain: between the spirit of charity and the spirit of friendship.
On the topic of cards, I've also been helping my Grampa by writing his Christmas cards and posting them - simple jobs that an 84-year-old man finds overwhelming. Editing my Gran's numerous old address books was a tough job: in each book, fewer and fewer names appear, as friends and eventually couples were scored through in her clear handwriting. The thought that Gran's name would be scored through in someone else' address book brought a lump to my throat. It only made me more determined to keep sending Grampa's cards for him. I wouldn't want anyone to stop writing to him prematurely. He relies on the cards he receives just as heavily as he mourns the friends who are no longer here to send them.
Another way in which I'm trying to spread a little goodness this Christmas is by taking part in two paper advent calendars: one provides the kids and me with a prayerful thought each morning; the other challenges us to do an act of kindness every day. Some are simple, like smiling at everyone. Others involve a little bit of effort, like doing an errand for someone who needs it. We've not been successful in completing every task on the day in question, but we're working on it and it's good to see how the boys think about each suggestion. Anything to make the world a little kinder is no bad thing.
Lastly, I've also been trying something outrageous: only leaving positive comments on social media 😉 it's harder than you think!
All in all, this month always causes me to consider my "goodness" - while I remind the children about Santa watching them, am I willing to be judged at my worst? How bad exactly is my worst? Is actively trying to be better good enough? Again, I find a balance helps: curb my bad habits and faults, make extra effort to be spread peace and love.
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This post comes from someone who is far from perfect and definitely doesn't claim to have any answers. I only want to share a few thoughts here as they come to me. I hope that this post has its desired effect: to share a little love.
Until next time.
FG x
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