December 20, 1018

December 20, 2018

Dear Readers,

We are in the season of Advent, a time of preparing our hearts for the Christ child’s birth.  But our preparations can take a severe detour into hustle and bustle—buying gifts (some of which the receiver may not want or need), cooking, baking, attending Christmas gatherings, getting those Christmas cards sent out, decorating.  In that hustle and bustle, and the cries of a small baby are lost.

And if our preparations for Christ’s birth are not detoured by hustle and bustle, they may be detoured in other ways.  Often we hold a Norman Rockwell image in our minds of Christmas, but for many of us that is not reality.  We may be separated from loved ones by death or by distance.  Others of us may be separated from our loved ones by anger or resentment.  Still others of us may be alone, and the cries of a small baby are lost.

This small baby came into our world over 2000 years ago to minister to our worries, concerns, hurts and our joys.  During these final days of Advent, may we make an effort to spend time with our God to focus on the Holy One’s love which was incarnated into the perfect Christmas gift, a small baby, Emmanuel, Counselor. . .

Gloria and I thank you for your Facebook fellowship and pray you a Blessed Christmas.

                                                                                                                                    Sharon Witty

P.S.  If we eat more than we should, let’s not beat ourselves up.  Let’s enjoy the food and any fellowship we are privileged to participate in AND love the cooks.

Seek Satisfaction

This is the season of temptations. Everywhere I look there is deliciousness: cookie trays, candy plates, wonderful desserts, buffets of elegant selections, and traditional holiday fare. If ever I needed blinders on or someone to physically control my actions, this is the season.

After the Thanksgiving holiday feast and a week's worth of leftovers, I am ready to work at my healthy eating routine again. My first adjustment is portion control. I had gotten out of control so I'm reeling in the size of my food portions and surprisingly I'm finding I am just as satisfied with the smaller portions. If I eat slowly, savoring the taste of the foods, and give my body about 20 minutes to acknowledge that I have indeed eaten, I find satisfaction.

"Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare," (Isaiah 55:2b NIV).

Often there is more going on at mealtime than hunger. My emotions often get in the way of real hunger.  I end up trying to stuff myself with food when the empty space is nearer my heart than my stomach. Does that ever happen to you? Unfortunately this has been one of my biggest challenges to overcome.

I try to be more aware of what is going on in my body these days, but I still struggle with cravings that aren't hunger based. They grab me and shake me until I give in, if I have something close by. So the key is to not keep those items around the house. I try not to let them jump in my shopping cart but sometimes I fail. Still I keep trying.

When I find myself wanting dessert, ice cream, or Golden Double Stuff Oreos, I try to take time to think about why I want those things. Am I hungry? No, usually I need something to fill my soul. So I'm going to try to follow this scripture verse and use it as my mantra this Christmas season:

"My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you," (Psalm 63:5 NIV).

I'm going to turn up the Christmas music and praise God in my off-key voice, instead of eating the foods that can't satisfy my soul.

May your Christmas season draw you closer to the Christ child's manger. That is where satisfaction lies.

Gloria D. Stewart