"When asked if my cup is half full or half empty, my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup." — Sam Lefkowitz
As we approach Christmas, I hear from the discussions around me that people are seeking a simpler kind of Christmas.
No longer do we seem to be stuck in the northern hemisphere type Christmas. Forget the reindeer, ice and snow. We will be wearing shorts and jandals and settling in for lunch. Maybe a meal of fresh picked peas and new potatoes and mint sauce for the lamb, or glazed ham. Followed by Christmas pudding, pavlova (with kiwifruit on top) and Chardon set to pop. Sounds great, doesn't it? But in some places in New Zealand some people have little to be thankful for and might not even have a cup.
Each year, the faithful people who remember the plight of others during this season are well engaged in serving others by now. Planning community meals, wrapping presents donated to give to the needy, buying a little extra food to give to one of the charities who know exactly who needs help. As the temperature gets warmer each day and we all begin to feel the heat of all the preparation and timeframes, we need to meet. It is just possible we start to forget the simpler things.
My Angels talk to me of gratitude. When we feel this emotion, something amazing happens to our body. The hypothalamus squirts chemicals into our blood stream to travel around our body. It is said that gratitude improves the immune system, combats degenerative diseases, helps us feel good, reduces pain and stress and relaxes muscles, improves blood flow, digestion and sex drive. Well, with all those improvements we should all be very grateful more often; and be showing heaps of gratitude to others. Maybe not just at this time of the year, but all year around.
Here is a challenge for the days before Christmas — wake up grateful every day and remind yourself of the simple things. Be grateful for what you have — and you will unlock blessings that will flow into your life. Arohanui.
Shirley-Joy