Christmas: Why celebrate in a suffering world?

Christmas: Why celebrate in a suffering world?

Adapted from an article originally posted Advent, 2016...

As the year draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on what it held for us and for our world. Or, if you’re like me, you’ve been thinking a lot over the last few months about the state of your community and the state of your heart. I can’t turn on the tv, log onto social media, or stand in line at the grocery store without pictures of tragedy and anger and death screaming in my face. On a personal level, the year brought a broken friendship, conflict with someone I love, and my beloved grandmother’s quick decline. My friends experienced physical suffering, hurting marriages, and death. Our communities and country are divided in ways that feel irreparable. Innocent people around the world are being killed in horrendous acts of terror.

Unclean Christmas?

Unclean Christmas?

Originally posted Advent, 2016...

Every year around Thanksgiving, my Facebook feed fills up with reasons why you shouldn’t do the Elf on the Shelf, why you should do Elf on the Shelf, why we should give our kids only 4 presents, why we shouldn’t have a Christmas tree, why we should believe in Santa, why we shouldn’t believe in Santa, and on and on the articles go. If you know me personally, you know I have strong opinions and probably an opinion on all of the above, but I often keep those to myself (or share with my poor husband!); they’re beside the point.

So what’s right? How should we celebrate Christmas this year?

Kara’s Collection: 5 Ways to Abound in Love

Kara’s Collection: 5 Ways to Abound in Love

It’s 4:30 in the morning and I cannot sleep. I woke with my daughter snuggled close, and all at once my mind was awake. I realized I have hours before my big treatment and I have days of work to get done. There is something each treatment that makes showing up more and more difficult. It’s simple—I know what is going to be happening. I know how low I will be brought when the healing poison is administered. I know how low I already feel. I know the fight for my normal will begin the minute the slow drip of poison begins. So in that place anxiety grows. But this morning my mind started to wonder over the power of love. And even in my low state, I am still able to live in love, extend love, and rest in love.

The Promise of Advent

The Promise of Advent

Originally posted Advent, 2016...

My mother did a great job at Advent and creating traditions. We had candles we lit every night, Bible verses we recited every evening, an advent calendar, and many other things that created a wonder land of excitement leading up to Christmas day! Her children, in turn, have all created our own advent traditions including calendars, wreathes, activities, and so on.