The Light Still Shines . . . Additional Reflections

For the third installment on dealing with the winter blues, I am once again going to share what helps me. This isn't a step-by-step path to sunny spirits. What helps me might help you--or might bring to mind things that would help you.

Singing. I have a hymnal on my night stand . . . as well as a Bible, a journal, a book of sudoku puzzles . . .. It helps me to pull out that hymnal and sing. Songs of praise seem particularly helpful. Here I'm singing with our friend Monika in Poland, 2022. Which reminds me of . . . 

Setting times to see friends/talk with family. Even though I'm a pretty strong introvert, it can be refreshing to connect with another human being. Perhaps especially because I'm a pretty strongly introverted, I sometimes make it a point to make an appointment to connect. 

Remembering my own sacred history.  When Keith and I were first married, we lived in a small town.  I had dreaded meeting someone from my past, though I knew the eventual encounter was probably inevitable since  this person had grown up in that town. Out of the blue, I dreamt about this person. In my dream, we had a brief but positive meeting. About a week later, I ran into this person on the street. They were back in town for a few days, and clearly nervous to see me. However, we did have a brief but positive interaction. To this day, I believe God used the dream to prepare me. And to this day, I remember how Keith reacted after I told him this story. Amazement at God's care, yes, followed by "and two weeks from now we'll wonder whether God loves us." 

After Joshua led the Israelites through the Jordan River, the Lord told them to stack up 12 stones, one for each tribe (Joshua 3 & 4). This would remind them of what God had done for them. And when future generations asked what that stack of stones was for, they could be told again about God's care for them. Jacob and Samuel did similar things (Genesis 28:18; 1 Samuel 7:13-14). I don't stack stones, but I do need to remember. 

The "thankful chain" our family makes each year is one way to do that. I'd be interested in hearing how you remember your own sacred history and how you share that with the next generation. But most of all, it would really be encouraging if you'd share one of your stories with me. 

Focusing on the Truth,

Mary