GoodNews Florida

GoodNewsFL.org 25 DECEMBER 2017 ENCOURAGEMENT We’re all familiar with the underlying wisdom behind the instructions to place the oxy- gen mask over our face even before reaching over to help our child in the case of an in- flight emergency. How can we truly be prepared to assist oth- ers if we are on the verge of unconsciousness? If the Christmas season leaves you gasping for air, Melissa Spoelstra’s Total Christ- mas Makeover might be the per- fect gift. Whether you spend the season terrified that you are al- ways one tray of cookies and a secret gift short or you wonder why your holiday doesn’t come close to the grocery store or cof- fee commercials, Melissa has wisdom for everyone. Live each day intentionally In these 30-days of wis- dom, Melissa shares scripture, reflection questions and a brief prayer along with hysterical family traditions, practical appli- cations and the connection of a trusted friend. I really enjoyed that the days between Christ- mas and New Years were so engaging. That week always feels like hidden time like the hour we get from day light savings or the $20 we find in our jeans. Melissa gives practical encour- agement on how to take all the treasures of the season and ex- tend them throughout the com- ing year. Now before you balk at the title and start clinging to your reindeer inflatables and nut- cracker collection better suited to the Biltmore House rather than your cute 2/2, Melissa in- vites you to consider makeover in terms of moving through the “pieces” of your holiday and considering whether they are truly keepers or not. Do your activities during this holiday re- ally contribute to celebrating Jesus’ birth? I found it exhilarating to look at an “ugly couch” of a long-practiced tradition and re- alize that with some tweaking and re-freshening, it could be- come my favorite piece and provide joy for years to come. Turning auto-pilot off Think about it. How many of your holiday activities are au- tomatic? Of course you contribute to every office collection, callout for cookies, wrapping paper fundraiser and family get to- gether. As for the 48 hours of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Those are spent in the car racing from relative to relative in a mad dash to check off appear- ances for the sake of . . .well, ap- pearances. So now that we’ve given our- selves the gift of retrospection, we’re ready to construct a holiday season that will help us keep our focus on what this celebration is all about. The birth of Jesus. Unpacking the gift Taking her inspiration from God’s scriptural principles of cel- ebration, Melissa moves you through a growing understand- ing of the rituals, relationships and rest that form the foundation for your acknowledgement of Jesus’ birth. Ritual - whether it is a mid- night candle service or your an- nual picnic on the beach, the special food, music and activi- ties of the season set it apart as something out of the ordinary. Each can prompt us to pause and reflect on the amazing things God has done through- out the year and throughout eternity. Relationships - what an irony that the fast pace of the season can have us exchang- ing time spent playing with LEGOs for a mad race through the mall to purchase a gift to show how much we love that same child. Your hair stylist, second cousin or the Salvation Army bell ringer not to mention family and friends can all be the recipient of gifts like hope, joy and appreciation along with a monetary blessing. Rest - this is an element that few of us are successful in weaving into our festivities, but Melissa makes a persuasive ar- gument for both the value and necessity of setting aside “reg- ular work” in order to reflect on God. As cyclical beings, it shouldn’t surprise us that main- taining a fever pitch of even the most spiritual of activities can rob us of the chance to pause, reflect and respond to God’s amazing gift of Jesus. No matter what day the cal- endar says it is, today is the per- fect day to grab a copy of Total Christmas Makeover for yourself at MelissaSpoelstra.com Anitra Parmele is a free- lance writer in South Florida and regular contributor to the Good News. She can be reached at [email protected] . Christmas Rehab Anitra Parmele Good News Dayna Calhoun , Placement Coordinator 4KIDS of South Florida and Health Coach, focuses on connecting with friends and family to avoid food temptations over the holidays.