Hello my friend,

Yesterday, I told you I had a related story to share, so let’s dive in and be inspired!

On Thanksgiving Day, I walked out of the house to take some recycling to our bin behind the garage. As I turned to walk back into the house, I saw a man rummaging through a large trash bin in the alley. Instead of walking back into the house, I walked over to greet him. I asked his name and if he had a need for a meal. His name was Charles and he shared that he lost his job over a month ago and he was collecting recycle and such to keep his family afloat. It was evident he had a cold and mentioned he was, “down on his luck with his health too.”

I went back inside, and my family gathered a grocery bag of food items to share with he and his family. Charles response: “I’ve never felt so grateful.”

This moment he and I had together, took me back to when I was going through a divorce and lived in a different city than my parents. I specifically told them that I didn’t have the energy or head space to celebrate Christmas that year and I wanted to be alone. I was lonely, heartbroken and sad. I was also isolating myself from receiving any sort of peace, by magnifying my brokenness with the decision to stay at home alone. When I opened the front door later that day and saw my parents standing on the porch with Santa hats on and a meal—I’ve never felt so grateful.

I think we can find peace in a host of ways, even when life feels uncomfortable. First, let’s remember our definition of peace from Day 1 of this study: Peace is freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts and emotions.

One catalyst to receiving peace is found within gratitude.

When I digest my conversation with Charles, he lit up when I simply asked him to share his name. I believe having someone take the time (especially on a holiday), to acknowledge him and his needs, created a sense of gratitude. The year of my divorce, when I made the decision ‘that because I felt lonely, I should be alone,’ I felt overwhelmed with gratitude to have the gift of company, that I didn’t even realize I needed. 

Charles and I both had an openness to receive from others and received peace through gratitude.

Now let’s go back to the present holidays—Christmas and New Year—where the creation of this three-day reading stemmed from. When it comes to this specific time of the year, I think expectations are at an all-time high and in a perfect world, we should all feel our best selves, expect others to be at their best selves and all should be merry and bright! #hopeful #butnotreality (Clever use of hashtags if I don’t say so myself!).

Truth is, life is always going to ebb and flow with an unknown timing. And some, including you and I, may simply not be at our optimal state-of-mind.

I’ve come to an understanding that this time of year is not solely to find the perfect material gift to exchange, although this is an act of receiving—so enjoy it should it be a part of your holiday!

Instead, let’s highlight this time of year by what I’ll define as a different type of gift exchange—one of renewal (or interchangeably; a gift of rebirth).

Imagine welcoming the holidays in this new state-of-mind below: 

THE EXCHANGE:

Webster Definition of Exchange: an act of giving one thing and receiving another
 

1. Exchange your cloak of suffering. Envision what ever you are enduring at the moment, as a cloak that wraps you. (Seriously, close your eyes and see your suffering all about you). Right now, you can exchange this suffering for a release of any misunderstanding that it is your duty to continue to carry it around. (Feel free to write this down).

Years ago, I wrote this: It sticks to me and I to it, no longer.

There was a period of my life when I realized I was holding onto hurt (an experience I had, something someone did or said to me) and it was I that was sticking to the past situation. I made it a part of who I was presently, how I felt and behaved. I realized I needed to exchange what was hurting, for peace. I needed to release the duty I had unconsciously given myself (to feel hurt, sulk in sadness and frustration, bitterness and anger) and instead receive what I am worthy of!

Today I am sharing this with you, because the same is possible for you too.

Which leads us to….renewal!

RENEWAL: A GIFT OF REBIRTH: 

Webster definition of Renewal: Starting to flourish or increase after a decline; a revival.

Rebirth: Rejuvenation. Restoration. (Think of the tree analogy from Day 2 study (click here) that gets re-fed, re-blooms and enters into a new growing season).

2. Let your heart be renewed. When I released what I was continuously sticking to, the weight from my heart lifted. At that point, I was no longer weighed down and experienced what it was like to be free in heart and mind! This is the gift of restoration (rebirth!).

Will you willingly exchange your hurt and pain for the gift of being released from feeling constrained, confined or restrained from receiving what you desire? Will you take off your cloak of suffering to receive peace of mind?

My friend, the annual holidays do not have to be a season that stirs up deep hurt, but instead, a beautiful (and intentional) pause at the end of the year to receive a great awakening!

Considering that we are in the days leading up to Christmas and a week from 2020, I can’t help but parallel the birth of Jesus, where the Christmas season stems from. The truth is, He came to bring new life, offer hope and rebirth (a new start) to a hurting world.

May you and I accept and receive the beautiful exchange available to us and harness the fact, that peace is offered to us not just in this season, but during all seasons of our life—including the ones that feel hard!

I'm taking this opportunity to awaken my heart and mind toward receiving peace and live in the freshness of a new year. Will you join me?

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