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TheRealJuliane
Guest
You will be in my prayers.
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laircy
Guest
I can’t either… It still feels like it just became fall and time is going by increasingly fast; I feel like I am falling behind.
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Immacolata
Guest
I feel like this as well; I often do as Christmastime comes upon us and I’ve just finished celebrating Halloween and Thanksgiving. A contributing factor to this is that I’ve seen Christmas decorations up since just a little after Halloween! I feel like I’m too behind.
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TigerKitty
Guest
Why not? I know some people find it hard to celebrate Christmas if they’ve lost someone during the previous year…so if that’s you, I’m sorry for your loss.
A priest at our parish once said that the people who don’t feel like celebrating Christmas are the ones who need it most. I never felt like celebrating, because I was always alone, and I lost my mom just after Christmas one year. Anyway, after that sermon, I went immediately to WalMart - still dragging my feet - and bought a 6’ tree, lights and ornaments. Went home, put it up, and turns out it was a huge turning point in my life. I hope things look up for you soon.
A priest at our parish once said that the people who don’t feel like celebrating Christmas are the ones who need it most. I never felt like celebrating, because I was always alone, and I lost my mom just after Christmas one year. Anyway, after that sermon, I went immediately to WalMart - still dragging my feet - and bought a 6’ tree, lights and ornaments. Went home, put it up, and turns out it was a huge turning point in my life. I hope things look up for you soon.
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Irishmom2
Guest
Beautiful, thoughtful post.It is …Advent.
Not Christmas.*
So not time to “get into Christmas yet”
Seek to get into Advent. Then hopefully Christmas Season will be easier to enter into when it comes…
Pray, go to confession, sing some advent songs, take some time to pray in silent meditation the expectation of the Second Coming of Christ…and then on the preparation for the celebration of his first coming…
For those though who are struggling with various difficulties …seek out friends…fellowship…seek out those who need you…remember the stress of Joseph having to take Mary to Bethlehem while she was expecting …and the stress of all the difficulties involved…know that they understand and that Jesus loves you and that Christmas can be simple yet joyful with him …even in the mist of struggle.
And may I add that you should not try and keep up with the world that goes Christmas crazy the day after Thanksgiving. If that is not your style, don’t feel pressured into doing it. As long as your heart is right about Christmas that is all that matters, not how your house is decorated, or how your gifts are already bought and wrapped or how many cards you send. Christmas is not about stressing ourselves out, and Advent is for preparing over time, not all in one day. So if your heart is feeling close to God in waiting for Christ as a child, that is all that matters.
As others have mentioned, ask for help. It is lonely and stressful to be responsible for all of the festivities of Christmas by yourself. Better yet, offer to help someone else with their decorations and preparations. It may just get your in the spirit to do your own. It worked for me.
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TinyButterfly
Guest
What a great idea!
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cheezey
Guest
“As long as your heart is right about Christmas that is all that matters”
I get that. I really do. And it is, where He is concerned. But this morning, I woke up to one thought.
If this is my life, I am disappointed. I am not happy that I am disappointed, either. That indicates a lack of faith. I am as faithful as ever; I know all will be well, one day. But I am painfully hurting and anxious for one day. I am still hopeful, too; He still has me getting out of bed in the morning. But, I am hard pressed to believe that He meant for me to be this miserable. Especially at this time of year. I want to get through this. I want to get through this for Him to be helpful. But each disappointment is hurting more and more, rendering me useless and I know I am not.
**16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven. Matt. 5:16
4 How can you say to your friend, ‘Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye’? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye.
5 …First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend’s eye. Matt. 7:4, 5**
I want this chunk of wood removed. Badly. I keep praying for relief by way of a human angel that He might send to me. I otherwise have but one long distance friend. There is no human emotional support for understanding my hurt. And that hurts, too. I don’t like hurting. No one does. But it’s affecting my hope, though it’s still there. It’s waning more than I’d prefer. I’d love to be celebrating, but I cannot even ‘make-do’ to do so.
There are a lot of “I’s” in this. Goes to show that my life needs more people in it.
Thank you for reading.
I get that. I really do. And it is, where He is concerned. But this morning, I woke up to one thought.
If this is my life, I am disappointed. I am not happy that I am disappointed, either. That indicates a lack of faith. I am as faithful as ever; I know all will be well, one day. But I am painfully hurting and anxious for one day. I am still hopeful, too; He still has me getting out of bed in the morning. But, I am hard pressed to believe that He meant for me to be this miserable. Especially at this time of year. I want to get through this. I want to get through this for Him to be helpful. But each disappointment is hurting more and more, rendering me useless and I know I am not.
**16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven. Matt. 5:16
4 How can you say to your friend, ‘Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye’? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye.
5 …First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend’s eye. Matt. 7:4, 5**
I want this chunk of wood removed. Badly. I keep praying for relief by way of a human angel that He might send to me. I otherwise have but one long distance friend. There is no human emotional support for understanding my hurt. And that hurts, too. I don’t like hurting. No one does. But it’s affecting my hope, though it’s still there. It’s waning more than I’d prefer. I’d love to be celebrating, but I cannot even ‘make-do’ to do so.
There are a lot of “I’s” in this. Goes to show that my life needs more people in it.
Thank you for reading.
M
misscath007
Guest
You have gotten some very insightful responses. Sometimes just feeling isolated around Christmastime can make you feel disappointed and depressed. I am trying to concentrate on the true meaning of the season, which is the birth of Our Lord. The overt commercialization of Christmas ruins it for me! I am participating in a Giving Tree for needy children, instaed of spending time shopping which I can’t afford to do anyway. Even if I could afford it, that’s not what the season is all about. I like to bake Christmas cookies to give away and watch holiday movies, little things like that can make me happy.
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cheezey
Guest
and now I have four weeks to leave where I am living. Another disappointment and challenge which I cannot face too readily…
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cheezey
Guest
Thank you. I have no resources to participate even minimally, though. Things are in no way good, except that He keeps waking me in the morning. I just can’t figure why because He’s not talking in a way I can understand. Too overwhelmed…
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hsmomforlife
Guest
This year is rough for me too. I decided that I’m going to TRY to do my decorations like they do at church…sort of…just a green tree is up right now. By this weekend we will test all 2700 lights that DH and DS put on our little 6’ tree 
and get them on the tree. We are ‘preparing’…in steps and stages. Once we have a tree with some lights on it, then I will take some time to go through the ornaments and hang them on the tree sometime over the week after the lights get on the tree. (Yes, I’m -]tripping over /-] living with totes in the living room right now!)
No garland or tinsel this year…we have a 2yo chocolate lab
Hopefully it won’t be so overwhelming this year that I want it all down and out of my sight by the end of the week after Christmas while DH is off work. :getholy:
and get them on the tree. We are ‘preparing’…in steps and stages. Once we have a tree with some lights on it, then I will take some time to go through the ornaments and hang them on the tree sometime over the week after the lights get on the tree. (Yes, I’m -]tripping over /-] living with totes in the living room right now!)No garland or tinsel this year…we have a 2yo chocolate lab
Hopefully it won’t be so overwhelming this year that I want it all down and out of my sight by the end of the week after Christmas while DH is off work. :getholy:
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Jeanne_S
Guest
Me too! my daughters’,Mom and granddaughter have a cookie baking day.Love it!I also,like to watch my favorite Christmas movies,“Christmas in Conneticut”-and “Miiracle on 34thStreet” WhitecChristmas" Makes me very happy
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cheezey
Guest
too bad i have no resources for any of these suggestions. just a home and quiet devotion to the season would be great…
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
WOW! 2700 lights on a 6’ tree…That must be something to see!!! I don’t even know how you string that many lights together to get them lit in the first place. But I’m sure it’s pretty - are they multicolored or just white?This year is rough for me too. I decided that I’m going to TRY to do my decorations like they do at church…sort of…just a green tree is up right now. By this weekend we will test all 2700 lights that DH and DS put on our little 6’ tree
No garland or tinsel this year…we have a 2yo chocolate lab
Hopefully it won’t be so overwhelming this year that I want it all down and out of my sight by the end of the week after Christmas while DH is off work. :getholy:
:christmastree1:
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hsmomforlife
Guest
It’s quite a feat and they aren’t strung end to end. It is actually very pretty and the lights are all multicolored…and I have many pictures of my kids laying on the floor reading by the light given off by the tree
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Irishmom2
Guest
Oooh, Oooh!! Do post a pic of the tree if you can!!It’s quite a feat and they aren’t strung end to end. It is actually very pretty and the lights are all multicolored…and I have many pictures of my kids laying on the floor reading by the light given off by the tree
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
Yes, I’d LOVE to see a photo too! That must be a heck of a jump in your electric bill, as well as a strain on that fuse in your house! I know the first year we decorated the outside of this house, we found out that one whole side of the downstairs is on the same fuse, because when the lights outside clicked on, and I had the 2 Christmas trees plugged in, that fuse breaker flipped and the TV and anything else in those 2 rooms went dead.It’s quite a feat and they aren’t strung end to end. It is actually very pretty and the lights are all multicolored…and I have many pictures of my kids laying on the floor reading by the light given off by the tree
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hsmomforlife
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LOL!! Yes…the electric bill spikes a bit, and no one can really do much in the garage since you can’t turn much on other than the garage door opener (dh and ds are both ‘hands on’ kind of guys). The rest of the house is ok…but since it’s in the same room as the thermostat…the rest of the house is kind of chilly while the tree is on!Yes, I’d LOVE to see a photo too! That must be a heck of a jump in your electric bill, as well as a strain on that fuse in your house! I know the first year we decorated the outside of this house, we found out that one whole side of the downstairs is on the same fuse, because when the lights outside clicked on, and I had the 2 Christmas trees plugged in, that fuse breaker flipped and the TV and anything else in those 2 rooms went dead.
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Irishmom2
Guest
h(name removed by moderator),
Beautiful!! Thanks for sharing a pic! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Beautiful!! Thanks for sharing a pic! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
I forgot to ask - it’s not a real tree is it? That is really pretty. Your kids must love it!LOL!! Yes…the electric bill spikes a bit, and no one can really do much in the garage since you can’t turn much on other than the garage door opener (dh and ds are both ‘hands on’ kind of guys). The rest of the house is ok…but since it’s in the same room as the thermostat…the rest of the house is kind of chilly while the tree is on!
The year before I went artificial I was putting the 1,000 or so lights on the real tree, had about half of them up, and realized that the tree was already dropping too many needles and would surely not last until Christmas. So I angrily stripped the lights off, dragged the tree to the car, hauled it back to the store, exchanged it for another tree, went back home, put the lights on the 2nd tree, and swore I’d never do that again. That year, I bought our first artificial tree and we’re on our 2nd one now. I miss the sheer number of lights that I used to string, but not the work involved. If I had to put the lights AND the ornaments on…well, it just wouldn’t happen.
This little gadget saved my sanity more than once, when I couldn’t get one of the sections or strings to light. And impressed the other people decorating the church, when I was able to zap a non-working garland back to life with a few clicks of my “gun.”
Lightkeeper Pro
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