I Think I Can...

I was raised by the most wonderful grandmother...

Except for one thing.  Every time I would moan, "I can't...," she would chant:

"Never say 'I can't.'  Say 'I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can." (from The Little Engine That Could by Matty Piper).

She never ever let me off the hook.  She helped me find alternatives, strategies, strength, direction.  But if it was important, she never let me give up.

I hated it!

As my son grew up, when he would say, "I can't...," I would chant:

"Never say 'I can't.'  Say 'I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can." (from The Little Engine That Could by Matty Piper).

I taught him many life skills including one that is especially important:

     You always, always, always have choices.

Then I helped him explore those choices to make a wiser decision next time around.  Like my grandmother mentored me, I helped him find alternatives, strategies, strength, and direction.

Now it's my grandson's turn.  My son, his mother, and I all play on the same team.

I hated it then.  I love it now!

I miss you, Gram. 

I'm a Sucker for Christmas!

I admit it.  I'm a sucker for Christmas.  I'm into Jesus all year long...all life long.  I'm into Santa Claus.  I'm into baking and shopping and partying and gifting and singing.  You name it, and if it has to do with Christmas, I LOVE it!

Do Christmas and Santa really coexist?  In my heart they do.  My favorite Christmas decoration dons a place of honor every year under my tree.

Whether you are religious or not, Christmas calls you to everything right with the world and challenges you to live a better life.  We NEED that reminder, at least once a year.

As life goes through its ups and downs, joys and sorrows, laughter and tears, Christmas comes:

In the passion of our joy, it gives us permission to savor the good life.
In the depths of our despair, it gives us hope of a better tomorrow.
In the midst of our failure, it gives us vision and wisdom.
In the challenges of our lives, it gives us strength.

If this Christmas finds you in a good place, remember to pay it forward.
If this Christmas finds you grieving and struggling, hang on.  Tomorrow really is another day.  You might find help in our YouTube Video Handling the Holidays with a Broken Heart:

May Christmas bring you peace, love, and joy.  There are no greater gifts.