Tis the Season
December brings a mix of emotion. You witness the unbridled joy of children opening presents and gawking at the festive lights. You tap your toes to the music of the season and anticipate glad reunions. Yet, the absence of loved ones mixed with dreary weather can also lead to long, sad hours. Both may happen.
Reflecting on the hardships of life that sometimes manifest in December, one of my favorite authors, Margaret Renkl observes, “I also understand that no matter how impossible it may be to believe, a tiny shard of joy always pricks again. Some surprising enchantment, some sudden mirth—somehow they always shine in the ashes.”
While I have enough life experience under my belt to sense the more somber side of December, I remain open to “shards of joy and sudden mirth.” In fact, I find myself expectant for moments such as these:
- Unexpectedly laughing so loud in a restaurant that your table garners attention.
- Bursting into song with the whole car as a road trip takes a positive turn.
- Reliving often told stories whose humor persists over the decades.
As you grind through the tough parts of the season, remain open to unanticipated moments of beauty and joy. May many such experiences come your way!
Worth Repeating
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.
-William Shakespeare
