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Everywhere I look I see broken things. And, you know what? I am weary of it. The world is depressed. People are hurt. Life is genuinely hard. So, this holiday I am going to do good things for others, AND, I am going to find joy. I'm going to look for that little seed of happiness, and I am going to cultivate it, nourish it and tend it like a seed in a treasured secret garden. Yes, there are tough things in my world, in your world, in our world. And, there is also laughter and hope and joy. There are smiles, guffaws, jingling bells, dancing stars, gurgling babies and the promise of renewal.
There is toast in the morning with strong coffee. There is a cup of tea with crumpets. There are funny laughs that come out of the blue that make us laugh until our bellies hurt. There is a dollar found in the pocket of a coat we haven't worn for a while. There is a cat or a dog that curls up in our laps. Somewhere, a friend waits to hear from us after all these years, so that they can smile with joy.
There are unexpected acts of kindness, great movies to watch, soaring prayers to say, carols to sing off or on key. There are cookies.
Laura, the mother of twins, says of her winter garden in Miami - "Ah! The joy of working the land... it’s cheaper than therapy! "
Courtney proclaims with joy that she is carrying an 18 week old baby girl!
Redhead has had problems being sad at the holidays, so she has this plan to find joy:
I do believe that helping others in need is a way to tap into that joy and so our little family is adopting the Rape Crisis Center and shopping for some of the needs on their wish list this year. I know that will help me to remember how fortunate I am before I go feeling sorry for myself for no good reason. One of the things they need is full outfits of clothes for the victims to wear home from the Emergency Room because the police have to save their clothing and submit it as evidence.
Dawn overflows with joy at the second birthday of her son.
Tracee Sioux has some great advice for those having a frugal holiday:
Your community has free Christmas stuff. I've never lived in a community that didn't. Do it. Participate. Don't grumble. Put a smile on your face and sing Jingle Bells while doing it.
This Laura is brimming with joy because her parents are visiting -- and as an added bonus are also helping her around the house with projects and cooking.
I love it when my parents come for a visit. They’re fun. They like to talk with us. (I just had to insist that my mom quit distracting me so that I could think enough to write this post.) They’re also as helpful as can be. Having them come is like a vacation for me too. My dad putters around and fixes things around the house and my mom makes dinner so that I don’t have to do it when I get home. See? Instant staycation!
Daiquiri posts about her son Ben's 7th birthday, and writes this about her joy in him in an as-yet-unsent letter to him:
And do you want to know something? I care deeply about you and your happiness...but I truly don't care what you choose to do. You are not defined by what you do. You are defined by your faith in our incredible God and by that deep and loving heart of yours. Whether you choose to be an astronaut, a school teacher, or a...I don't know...short-order cook...I will love you with all my heart and be passionately proud of you until my last dying breath.
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I love you with all my heart. I love you in ways I never thought possible. I didn't even know that love and devotion like this existed until I felt you move in my tummy for the first time. And when I held you in my arms for the first time...oh, I thought I would burst from the love and joy that was born in my heart in that moment.
Rose Valentine blogs about attending the Puerto Rican Parranda celebration in East Harlem with her family after a difficult year:
Last weekend I went to the Parranda en El Barrio
