ANOTHER HALLMARK MOMENT

 Recently I purchased this shirt-

A good friend and I used to laugh and say we were going to start a shirt company for 

LIFE IS HARD

You might think I was a little cynical---at the time I was.  The Holy Spirit has worked on my heart and I no longer feel that way after much pondering. (Well most of the time)

Why is the available movie list filled with Hallmark movies this time of the year?  I well remember the time when Hallmark movies came on television for a few select holidays during the year.  I looked forward to always watching these warm--feel good movies.  NOW--you can view a different one from now to Christmas every single day.  Why so many--why would the demand be so high?  We all want to believe that life is like those Hallmark movies.  They all lived happily ever after.  My friend told me no one wants to hear a Debbie Downer story.  Doom and gloom or sunshine and roses---?  the sunshine and roses win without contest.    Why else would they be producing so many of these movies with true love, child's dream fulfilled, a warm but White Christmas with baubles and tinsel on every tree and all the world at peace.  That is what we think we want from life---but it does not always work that way for many of us.

SO watch those Hallmark movies if that is your cup of tea and buy those life is good shirts without a guilty conscious.  Yes---life is hard at times---extremely hard at others---but for every difficult time---there are many more good--good times.  Blessings beyond measure are also abundant in life.  The birth of a child, a grand, the sunrise and sunset, the cool breeze on a sunny day, the first blooms of spring, a carpet of snow under our feet, the rivers, lakes & oceans, the autumn leaves, the quiet of a winter's day walk through the woods, sitting by a warm crackling fire, and on and on.  Our lives are filled with "good moments"--wonderful moments.  Our task becomes dwelling on the good, and accepting the hard knowing God will sustain us and is always by our sides.  

My prayer is this holiday season will be filled with peace and joy--of the gift of our King--in the good and the bad---He is our Faithful Redeemer.

"The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

And the peace of God,

which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds

in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:5-7