It’s a few days before Christmas, and for now, the quiet is enjoyable.  I’ve decorated, sent out the cards and the gifts are all wrapped. The food and drink menus are set. All that’s left is to fill this place up with humans.

Our adult children and our first grandchild will all be here on Friday. Their Aunt and Uncle will be joining us, this year, for the festivities. It will be a nice addition!

I have observed so many things this past year.  Things that brought up a lot of emotions:  anger, frustration, fear, and Joy.  But tonight, I’m going to share the Joy. The rest of those feelings, I can share with you later.

We’re in the house of our dreams which brings us immense Joy!

We’ve had friends and family visit to share in our Joy.

Our family was blessed with our first grandchild, the definition of Joy.

We’ve been blessed to live close to Jeff’s brother-in-law and sister while they navigate his illness.  Helping them brings us Joy.

We’ve also heard from so many people this year about their Joys. Their new life journeys, new grandbabies, new homes, new jobs, and weddings. For those who are gone, our memories of them should also bring us Joy.

If you’ve felt throughout the year that some of your Joy has been taken from you and you’ve had zero control over it, here’s what I believe…

I believe Christmas was chosen to be at the end of the year. It’s celebrated at this time to replenish all the Joy that’s been taken from us throughout the year. 

We are meant to let go of the fear, the anger, the sadness and replace it with the Joy from a very small gift.  The gift is the baby, in a manger, who was sent to take away our fears, our anger and our sadness.

This gift enhances the lights we look at. It creates emotions to the carols we listen to. And it warms our hearts at the laughter of family and friends. Our JOY “tanks” are filled during Christmas. Filled with the Joy given to us by that special little baby.

Grateful for you and wishing you a Joyful and a Merry Christmas,

Sheree 

 P.S. My favorite song about that Joy-filled baby “Mary, Did You Know”