Cohen and I snuggled taking our afternoon nap.  (both of us are/have been sick) and we woke up in coughing fits.  When we finally quit coughing, lay back on the pillows, Cohen said, “Man, Nana, dat was bad…..and when I mean bad- it was weally bad!!”  LOL- he’s right- it’s been weally bad. 🙂

I hate being reduced to lying flat on my back, requiring other people to have to take care of me!  I’m the Mom! I’m the Nana!  I get to take care of other people.  I’m not supposed to get sick- or sad- or in a funk.  It is my job description to be there- or here- or wherever I’m needed most.  That’s what I love to do!

Flat on my back gives my brain too much time to think.  Contemplations and “what if’s” begin multiplying in my brain as surely as two rabbits turn into 40!  Sometimes, it’s just one thing that we see, a smell, or a song, that can trigger a downward spiral into a funk. At our Christmas program, a poem was shared:  My First Christmas in Heaven.

 As I listened to the poem, I mentally began thinking about each loved one that is celebrating in heaven –  then stopped cold as I realized this year there was a new sorrow to contemplate.  My heart began to ache for my son and daughter-in-love who were expecting their first baby right after Christmas.  They lost the baby right before my son graduated from college and now we celebrate my daughter-in-love’s college graduation right before her estimated due date. A grandchild we never got to see or hold- only love with the promise we’ll hold each other in heaven. Life doesn’t make much sense between the trees.  What do I say- how do I make it right?  What can I do to ease their loss?

My own pain is bearable, but my children’s pain is not!

I hate feeling helpless.

As I laid and contemplated, my mood turned bluer-

Jeff came home and told me a pastor friend lost his grandson to suicide, of a marriage in crisis, our friends are losing their home, my mother-in-law is still struggling physically, my brother-in-law and his family will face Christmas without their eleven year old son.  The list stretches out endlessly….I hate feeling overwhelmed.

Just like the first Christmas was a strange mixture

of divine and terrible –

so it is with our lives.

Consider:

Gabriel told Mary her she was favored by God to bear the Savior~ Mary had to deal with telling Joseph and possible stoning or disgrace…. Angelic choir joyously announced His arrival ~ God in flesh was born in stinky stable…. Star of Wonder points the Way to find the King of Kings ~ King Herod orders the massacre in Bethlehem…..  Kings came to bow down and worship  ~ the Holy family had to flee to Egypt.

*There is a good thing about being reduced to nothing, feeling overwhelmed and helpless, being flat on my back-

It makes me look up. 

It makes me reach out to Him who loves me so much

that He came to be near me- and you!

  I put a limit on my “contemplating”.

[Tweet “Put a limit on contemplating your losses- look up and gaze on His Perfect Love.”]

  I make myself stop- and begin to acknowledge all my blessings and His goodness! I contemplate His promises and His faithfulness, how many other yuck situations He’s brought me through. 

I fix my thoughts on His unending love and the perfectly awesome ending He has all planned out.  This is not positive thinking, because pma (positive mental attitude) can only take you so far. 

This is an act of my will to get back into His presence and His comfort. 

I dedicate my heart on being faithful to Him who gave me so much.  As I laid and listened to Christmas music, O Come All Ye Faithful came on.  Joy exploded in my soul as the second verse was being sung.  I realized the citizens of earth and the citizens of Heaven are UNITED as we come and worship Him together.

O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him, Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God In the highest;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

 O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Surprising Treasure: 

You can stop the funk when you begin to adore Him!