FACING THE FUTURE ALONE

FACING THE FUTURE ALONE
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 by DONNA SCHLACHTER

Categories: GUEST AUTHORS / TUESDAY'S TREASURE

PLEASE WELCOME

DONNA SCHLACHTER

TUESDAY’S TREASURE

What do you do when your world falls apart, and you must now face the future alone? This can happen in any number of ways: separation, divorce, or death of a spouse.

Many holidays can be a struggle the first time around, but it seems that Thanksgiving and Christmas are the most difficult. This might be because we tend to place high expectations on these two days, particularly when it comes to family.

Maybe it would be nice to skip these days.

Has that thought ever crossed your mind?

Well, here’s the good news. God gives you permission to do exactly that:

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17 ESV

In other words, don’t let anybody say you aren’t behaving properly, or you’re not honoring the Lord, or you’re not being a good Christian if you don’t keep every holy day and holiday. In this verse, Paul is even saying if you don’t keep the Sabbath, there is no condemnation.

Why is that? Holy days were instituted by God to point to Jesus as Messiah; and with His resurrection, He’s already fulfilled the sacrifices and sacraments that foreshadowed His coming. We now live in the New Testament times, counting down the days until He comes again.

There are many committed Christians who don’t celebrate Christmas because they understand it isn’t the actual day Jesus was born. More than likely, He was born in the Spring, when ewes bore their lambs.

If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed for any reason about Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other holiday, here are a few tips that might make the day easier:

… Don’t spend it alone.

Find a few friends to invite to your place, or crash somebody else’s party. Bring dessert—they’ll love you for it.

… Find different traditions to incorporate into the day.

Perhaps adopt one or two from another culture.

… Volunteer on those days.

Many ministries find themselves short-handed when all their workers want to take the day off. Volunteer to work on those days so somebody with a family or travel plans can take the time off.

… Don’t overspend.

You can’t fill the hole left in your heart and your life with “things.”

… Go to church if possible.

All in all, holidays are really just another day. One that the Lord made, however, and we are to rejoice in each and every one of them. Simply knowing that others have gone and are going through these rough times can encourage us to persevere and to look for ways to distract from the date, focusing on the Giver of the Day.

In my book, A Mommy By Christmas, a widower and his young son face another bleak Christmas alone. But God has other plans, and a Thanksgiving Dinner brings healing where only brokenness had been. You can check it out at: https://www.amazon.com/Mommy-Christmas-Ridge-Romance-Book/dp/1943688893

ABOUT DONNA SCHLACHTER

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky-clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and the publishing process, coaching writers at any stage of their manuscript. Learn more at https://www.donnaschlachter.com/the-purpose-full-writer-coaching-programs Check out her coaching group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

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