Founder and Editorial Director
Welcome to the Christmas edition of Just Saying! The electronic pages of the December magazine are designed to promote peace, health and happiness. The variety of contributions will enlighten and challenge you throughout this most wonderful time of the year!
For many people, the holiday season is filled with fun, family and festivities. Good memories are often invoked the moment the word Christmas is mentioned. However, for some, you may find Christmas a really difficult time of year. You may think that it is impossible to muster up enough joy and happiness to get through the holiday preparations, the parties and the presents. Holidays to you may symbolize a time of heartache and pain. Memories may not be made of laughter, love and leftovers. Instead they are filled with times of regret, sadness and grief. You may be wondering, is it even possible for you to experience even a glimmer of joy?
Researchers believe so, as they state that genetics are behind about 50% of the variation in happiness levels among people, and that life circumstances account for 10%. Which means that you are fully in charge of the rest! I have heard from some people that they do not think that they can control their happiness. Some believe that you either have it or you don’t. This is totally not true, according to research, and most importantly, according to the word of God. Happiness and joy are like controlling your health. You need to first believe that you can do it, before you take those initial steps. You need to believe in yourself, as I believe in you, and God does as well.
If you are feeling glum this Christmas, how then do you begin to embark on a path that will lead you towards joy? Studies have proven that when people are asked to try to do three to five acts of kindness a week for others, they report that they are more joyful. If you are not feeling happy this holiday season, I recommend that you try to turn your attention to others, and to not focus on the sad thoughts and the painful memories that may be bombarding your mind. Instead, take on a challenge to bring someone joy and kindness this holiday season. Even amongst your own pain and suffering, there is always someone out there in a similar or a worse situation. Take on a quest to find someone to bless.
Decide to bring joy to that special someone through the art of giving. The giving does not have to be a gift that you purchase at the store, although it could be. Instead, the gift can be in the form of shoveling a driveway, driving a person to the grocery store, inviting someone over for a nice warm cup of coco or simply taking the time out to give a compliment. I challenge you to enlarge your circle to include those who also need an extra special boost this Christmas season. When we give to others through acts of kindness, we often forget our own troubles, if even momentarily.
The bible tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. So, by being a cheerful giver, we must give from a place that is genuine and desiring to bless others. A cheerful giver is someone who enjoys giving, and wants to give. It is not someone who reluctantly gives, and gives only to get. A cheerful giver is someone who gives, not expecting to get anything in return.
God was a cheerful giver when He sent His only Son to be born on this earth, and to take on the sins of the entire world, so that you and I may live forever with Him in heaven. God knew that no matter how many things we do for Him on this earth, that nothing could repay Him for the ultimate gift that His son gave by being born into a world filled with sin, and by later dying on a cross so that we all could receive the gift of eternal life. Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection are the ultimate gifts. They are the gifts that keep on giving, as once you have received this free gift, continual joy will flood through you, even in the midst of sorrow.
The messages that are woven throughout the magazine, will help you to more fully realize that we all need to come to a place of deeper understanding, that God’s gift of His Son Jesus was freely given, so that we all might experience joy and hope, even if we are suffering and in pain.
For some of you, this holiday season is filled with joy and peace, while for others, you may be in a very dark place. Wherever you find yourself on life’s journey, the dedicated team of Just Saying’s united voice is committed to speaking hope, peace and truth to help shine a light into the dark places.
By opening up the electronic pages of Just Saying, you will experience the unfolding stories that promote healthy lifestyles through relationships, music, faith, family, food, fitness, fashion, finance and fun!
I would love to hear from you. Please send your comments and questions to cheryl@justsaying.today.
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