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Posts Tagged: christmas

The Final Gift of Christmas

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Christmas – a shining star – a break from the tedious schedules we find ourselves in.

For a moment in time, we escaped the drudgery, pressures, anxiety, and uncertainties.

For a moment in time, we humbly knelt before the Christ Child whose birthday we celebrate.

For a moment in time, we laid down our heavy burdens of doubt and fear and unanswered questions.

And now Christmas is over. The torn wrappings are stuffed in bags ready for the garbage pickup Bows are packed away to use again next year.

As I pick up the gifts I was given – love, joy, and peace – I find another one waiting for me; that final gift of Christmas: Hope.

5 Christmas Gifts I Am Thankful For

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

I love Christmas – the lights, the music, the gifts, and the anticipation of time spent with people I love.

As I reflect on the many gifts I have given and received at Christmas, I am reminded that perhaps the most important gifts we can give one another are not the carefully chosen and budgeted gifts from the store, but time to listen, loyalty, love, understanding, grace, and forgiveness.

Today on my blog and podcast, I’ll share five special gifts I’ve received this year.

What about you? I urge you to list the gifts you have received during the year and to give thanks for them.

Give the Gift of Reaching Out to a Hurting Person

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Thanksgiving is over and the beautiful fall colors have been replaced with red and green and twinkling lights. We have entered the season of Christ’s birth. The namesake of this holiday is so often forgotten, pushed aside, or replaced by a jolly old man in a red suit, congested malls, and holiday specials you can’t afford to miss.

While I love my tree lights and all the ornaments and decorations, without the gift of love given to us by that tiny baby born so long ago, Christmas would be shallow and superficial.

Christmas is a time when we can make a special effort to reach out to those who are hurting or are alone. A few minutes of our time, an empathetic listening ear, and understanding can be huge to those who are suffering from a loss or loneliness.

What if. . . Re-Thinking Christmas

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

What if. . . Re-Thinking Christmas

What if… We discovered that Christmas really was more than holiday get-togethers, calculated gifts, and the compulsory visits to relatives we otherwise would not speak to?

Would we truly experience Christmas?

What if… We really got it; that Christmas is about the birth of a Savior?

Would we realize our need for Him?

What if… We stopped trying to live perfect lives, pretending we had it all together?

Would we become real?

The Gift of Christmas

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son….”
—John 3:16

Christmas: a time of decorated trees and fireplace mantels. A time filled with commitments and hectic schedules as we make mad dashes to the store for last-minute presents.

Our “have to” lists are long and sometimes burdensome. But the love list attached to each of those gifts we select and purchase are filled with joy and anticipation; we can’t wait to see the pleasure our gift will bring to someone we love.

Both lists are necessary. One fulfills a sense of duty and propriety. The other fills our heart with joy.