 Photo by Elina Fairytale at Pexels.com "Laughter is the best medicine." What is it about a mutual laugh shared between friends or family that can turn around even the darkest of days? Laughter is such a healing balm that bonds all kinds of people and helps them regain perspective, clear their minds, and get them back on track in general. So where do we find these pockets of joy? Listen up, everyone, because I have some great locations for you to look that will surely get you giggling.  Photo by Helena Lopes at Pexels.com Funny FriendsWhen I need a good laugh, I have several friends who meet that need in a big way. These particular friends at times don't even try to be funny, but they get me going with tears of laughter every time. The world needs more of those types of people ASAP. If you have some friends like that, consider yourself blessed. These humorous peeps are not stress-free but have found the value of being able to see the lighter side of things, and for them in many ways, it truly has been their secret to success. I strive to be more like them because it is a truly wonderful way to live your life.  Click here for an excerpt from the book. Funny KidsIf you are new here, you may not know that I have been an elementary school teacher for over 20 years. It is hard to believe that I am two years from retirement, and it will be here before you know it. I have so many funny stories from my years as a teacher that I am compiling them all in a book that is due to be out next year, called Chuckles and Chalk Dust: Stories From the Classroom to Warm Your Heart and Make You Smile. If you are interested in snagging a copy when it is published, please fill out the button below, and I will gladly add you to the waitlist. A funny story that happened this week was tied to a drawing that a student gave me. We had been talking about healthy eating, and he drew me a picture of two beautiful and detailed cakes—one on the back of the paper and one on the front. I commented on how lovely the cakes were, but that I am trying to eat healthy. He said, “No worries. One is 500 calories and the other is 0 calories. Make your choice.” I laughed out loud because he knows that I am trying to eat healthy, so he sure covered all bases.  Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash Funny TV Shows and MoviesTo lighten your heart, a great strategy is to tune into your favourite funny TV shows or movies. My favourite laugh-out-loud show is Everybody Loves Raymond. This show is so relatable, and I am always guaranteed to feel better than I did before pressing play on the remote with this hilarious show. I encourage you to tune into this show or other lighthearted comedic shows or movies. It is so therapeutic to look at the funny side of life as often as possible. I know that this season brings an endless To-Do List, but be sure to pencil in time for laughter. Your soul needs it. Call to action:
Until next time, Here’s to lots of smiles and belly laughs! Dana
Tags: laughter is the best medicine, find the funny, joyful moments, holiday hustle, humor, lighten up, choose joy, daily faith and joy, Little Lessons Learned by Dana, spread joy, Christmas cheer, life lessons, find the good, joy in the journey, simple joys, healing through humor
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 Photo by Nicole Michalou at Pexels.com As we countdown the gifts that money can't buy, I would be remiss if I didn't highlight the gift of friendship. Friendship is the gift that keeps on giving because friends keep us going through the ups and downs of this crazy world of ours each and every day. I have friends in many different settings who are extremely special to me. In this wonderful collection of irreplaceable people are: church friends, workplace friends, new friends and those who fall into the lifelong friends category. One such lifelong friend is Monika. I will admit this is dating myself a bit, but her and I have been friends for fifty years! That is very hard to believe, but when you have a good friend like her, you hold on tight. We really enjoy each other's company and can talk about anything and everything. Recently, she invited my sister and I over for a Hallmark movie night. We wore our Christmas attire, and she prepared some great treats to enjoy—you know, the kind where we don't count calories for one magical evening. You get the point. The evening was so fun and meaningful, and I left smiling with my cup running over with joy. Monika and I have become more intentional lately and have made getting together a priority. We love our coffee dates, walks and shopping trips and have committed to an annual summer girl's getaway. All my best childhood and growing up memories have Monika in them because we were inseparable, to the point that she was deemed my parents' adopted daughter. So glad that she lives close by to make getting together so easy. Her friendship is indeed a wonderful gift to me.  Monika and I on one of our first Christmas seasons together. The recipe for a great friendshipIf you were to make a pot of friendship soup this season, what would you include? I have done this activity with my students, and many essential ingredients come to mind. Here's what would go in my pot. The first ingredient is common interests. It is so easy to visit with people when you share things in common. This is why my church friends have become like family to me. We share so much in common, including our desire to grow closer to Jesus each and every day. I have also met great friends through volunteer experiences, recreational activities, or through working on projects together. The feeling of being in the same boat—and we are all in this together—is a very powerful bonding experience. The second ingredient is kindness. We naturally gravitate towards people who treat us well. A great friend knows you inside and out and loves to extend kind gestures toward you. Whether it is a funny text to make you laugh, a hug when you need it, a word of encouragement, or a well-timed compliment, a good friend is always ready to bestow love and kindness on you in ways that mean the most to you. That is why you enjoy spending time with those people. They bring out the best in you, and you leave feeling so fulfilled after spending time with them.  Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA at Pexels.com The third ingredient is mutuality. When you have mutuality in a friendship, everyone wins. These friendships consist of having a great balance of being there for each other through thick and thin. When one is down, the other lifts them up. When one needs a listening ear, the other sits in silence, listening without judgment and offers advice when needed. These friends jump in with sleeves rolled up when their help is needed, and they know that you will do the same for them when the time comes. There is never any sense of owing anyone anything. These friends know that when they need you, you will be there “with bells on,” as my mom used to say, and a pot full of coffee. The fourth ingredient is honesty. A true friend will be honest with you about easy and hard topics. They will speak the truth in love and are not afraid to have the difficult conversations with you. They do this because they love and value you so much that if they have a concern, they will let you know. These are the best people to hear from because they know you so well, and you know they truly have your best interests at heart.  Photo by Karola G at Pexel.com The fifth ingredient is trust. Your closest and dearest friends know your heart. They are the keepers of your secrets, heartfelt longings and deepest prayer requests. You can truly be yourself with them. While with others you may need to save face, not with these fine folk. They have seen you at your absolute worst and just love you all the more. My heart is so full as I review my list of precious and dear individuals who I would deem my closest friends. These wonderful people exhibit these qualities and so much more. I am beyond blessed and know that they are an absolutely amazing gift to me not just at Christmas, but truly all year long. Call to Action
Dana Copyright: littlelessonslearnedbydana, © 2025
Tags: FriendshipMatters, MeaningfulFriendships, TrueFriendsAreBlessings, GiftOfFriendship, FriendshipInChrist, ChristianEncouragement, HolidayReflections, 12ThingsMoneyCantBuy, FaithAndFriendship, StrongerTogether, FriendshipGoals, ChristianBlog, LifeGivingRelationships, EncouragementForWomen, HeartfeltConnections, Christmas Photo by Mai In May at Pexels.com "Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~ Peg Braken The hectic holiday season is upon us, and there is so much hustle and bustle all around. There are cookies to bake, holiday feasts to prepare, trees to decorate, gifts to buy and wrap, and endless festive parties and events to schedule and attend. Sometimes it feels like we can barely catch a breath. This season can really leave a person feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, yet despite all this, it is so important to remember what should be our priorities. Don't become so busy running around that you forget to enjoy who and what is right in front of you. This blog highlights the gift of time and why your presence is truly more important than your presents.  Photo by Little Lessons Learned by Dana The Power of a Few Minutes of TimeI received a special treasure this week in the form of a handmade thank you card. It was from an absolutely precious former student. It was so unexpected and appreciated. What really got my attention was what she said in her card. She wrote "thank you for spending time with me and always giving me hugs." This little sweetheart was in my class last year. Every day she still comes to see me for multiple hugs, and she finds me on yard duty, holds my hand, and visits with me. It is just a few minutes at a time, but very meaningful for both of us. We enjoy each other's company, and she is always a breath of fresh air in my day. As an aside to this sweet little story, her teacher this year asked if she gave me a thank you card, and she replied yes. Her teacher then said, "You filled her bucket today." They had been reading about how being kind is like filling up someone's invisible bucket, based on the best-selling book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? The student replied, "I fill her bucket every day." I completely agree!  My Mom on her last Christmas shared with us. A Christmas I Didn't Know to TreasureThe above picture is of my irreplaceable Mom on her last Christmas with us. It was in 2020. The interesting thing to ponder is although my Mom has passed away, she died in 2022. How could we have known that just a few brief months after this very happy Christmas photo was taken, my outgoing, people-loving, gregarious Mom would fall into deep debilitating depression that would steal her joy for the few Christmases that she had left. To think we almost didn't get together that year is unbelievable. It was Covid 19 time and the government was advising no gatherings even despite that it was Christmas. Thank God we did anyways and had that priceless time to treasure. What I wouldn't give for even 5 more minutes with her to hug her and chat with her. Losing her was one of the biggest heartbreaks of my life and it really brought home for me even more how spending time with the important people in your life is so very essential. We need to do it now.  Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash Everyone is busy. Make the time.Can I make a confession? It really bothers me when people, (myself included) get caught up in the "I'm just so busy" trap. We should never be too busy to spend time with those who are important to us and we need to learn to put less urgent matters on the backburner from time to time. My friend Stacie and I got together for a long-overdue coffee date last week. We had been needing to catch up for weeks and kept saying, "Let's get together." We realized we needed to be more intentional about getting our visit on the calendar. You see, the "let's have coffee sometime" phrase does not cut it, my friend. Without getting a date scheduled, it most likely will not happen. Our visit, due to other commitments, was just over an hour, yet we covered so much ground and were able to reconnect and have a very much needed meaningful conversation. I left feeling encouraged and edified and was so grateful to have had that time with her, even if it was way too brief. It still mattered and blessed us both.  Photo by paje victoria on Unsplash Intentional HolidaysThis holiday season, remember that time is a very valuable commodity. We don't know how much we have, but any we give to others is absolutely priceless. Call to Action
Until next time, Dana P.S. If you are missing time with someone this holiday season because you are grieving, I understand. You are having a Different Kind of Christmas. Take some time to reflect and remember the happy moments. Don't forget all those around you that you do still have. Copyright: littlelessonslearnedbydana, © 2025
Tags: gift of time, time well spent, meaningful moments, family time, quality time, togetherness, cherish every moment, Christmas spirit, holiday joy, mindful moments, heartfelt holidays, intentional livingAs we head into the holiday season, I am sharing a new blog series called 12 Things Money Can’t Buy: A Christmas Countdown of What Truly Matters. The first gift I share with you is kindness.  Photo by Julia Filirovska at Pexels.com Kindness: The gift that costs nothing but changes everything. It seems unbelievable that the Christmas season is almost here once again. The year seemed to fly by, and here we are heading into the holidays. For some, it brings excitement and joy, yet for others it can only enhance the loneliness and discouragement they are already experiencing on a daily basis. At this time of year, we talk of Christmas wish lists and often are scurrying around trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on our list. One gift that is perfect for everyone is the gift of kindness. Something so simple, yet so valuable all at the same time. Let's examine this for a moment, unwrap this precious treasure, and see why kindness is needed now more than ever.  Photo by Tara Winstead at Pexels.com Times are toughChristmas comes at the end of the calendar year, and for many it has been a hard and difficult year. Depression and anxiety seem to be commonplace these days. Extending a bit more grace, generosity, and kindness is key at this time of year. The holidays have been known to be especially challenging for those who have experienced hardships throughout the year, as they could be struggling financially, missing a loved one, or in a situation they never anticipated. These people need someone to lift their spirits and help them see that there is still joy to be found in the midst of sadness. We are often unaware of what people have been going through, and by each of us deciding to be a bit more gracious, it can truly make a powerful difference. Positivity is so refreshing Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels.com There is so much negativity in our world. When you choose to break that trend and be a positive voice in the crowd, people will be drawn to you and feel encouraged and inspired. They will be blessed by your presence and your optimistic views on things. You bring hope and healing to others by helping them to see that there is still good in this world, demonstrated through your positive perspective and sincere effort to be kind. A little means a lot Photo by Prathyusha Mettupalle at Pexels.com I love the expression throw kindness around like confetti. Seriously, people, sprinkle that stuff everywhere. It will be soaked up like water in the desert with so many positive benefits for both you and the recipient of your warmth and goodwill. Imagine how different our world would be if we all decided that every day we would focus on being extra kind to at least one person each day. Find some people and sprinkle away! Perhaps you let them ahead of you in the coffee line, pay for their order in the drive-thru, shovel their driveway, offer to babysit so they can get a much-needed break, or drop off some Christmas cookies to them. Don’t hesitate. Do it. What we may think is small can be so meaningful in another’s eyes. Not only that, but your small, heartfelt gesture could be what makes their entire Christmas this year. Let’s remember how valuable and needed kindness is these days and put it on our priority list as we finish off this year and head into the next. Call to Action:
When we focus on kindness, the world becomes a more gentle, positive, and inspiring place to live for each and every one of us. Until next time, Dana Copyright: littlelessonslearnedbydana, © 2025
Tags: Christmas kindness, Christmas inspiration, meaningful Christmas, gifts money can’t buy, holiday reflections, Christmas blog series, acts of kindness, Christmas encouragement, faith and inspiration, Christmas countdown, heartwarming Christmas stories, seasonal reflections Photo by HT Photography "Be someone's sunshine when their skies are gray." Sunshine in the classroomWe had ourselves "a grand time" in Room 21 this past week. In honour of the anniversary of my mom's passing, at the end of the month I threw a sunshine themed party for my students. For many years before she passed away my mom, Mrs. Lear, came faithfully every Friday to my classroom. Bursting through the door each week she was bombarded with hugs and squeals of delight from the students in gleeful anticipation of what she may have brought with her this time. There were always fun songs, cool games, exciting stories, themed parties, treats and more mentorship and priceless life lessons than the kids ever realized. She loved on those kids hard and brought joy beyond measure to the classroom and their little hearts. My mom was literally sunshine in human form. Pair that with the fact that her home was adorned with more "You are my Sunshine" items than you thought possible, and a sunshine party in her honour was certainly most fitting. At this party, the students were challenged to "be the sunshine" just like she was and the theme was what Mom would say on repeat "You never go wrong by being kind." The students were delighted and enjoyed cupcakes, and made cards for their special people in their lives. I highly recommend this type of celebration as it brought so much fun to an otherwise average Friday and it really helped me on my grief journey to keep Mom's memory alive and share her with another bunch of sweet students.  Photo by Little Lessons Learned by Dana  Photo by Little Lessons Learned by Dana Be the SunshineMy mom was one incredible woman and I strive to emulate her, and be the sunshine to this world of ours, just like she was. It is a challenge that I extend to everyone. We often think it takes a big effort or grandiose gesture to make an impact. That is often not the case, as many times it is the smallest things or acts of kindness that are the most cherished. In the past at times when I would contemplate reaching out to different people who were going through hard times, I would oddly become hesitant. Perhaps it was because I didn't know them that well, or was concerned that they would be private about their concerns. My mom taught me to be different, put fear aside and instead ask myself "Why am I hesitating?" Then again she would chime in with a sparkle in her eyes saying "If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times... You never go wrong by being kind." No truer words were ever spoken. Little Things Go a Long Way Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash Perhaps you would like to spread more sunshine in your corner of the world, but you don't know where to start. My first piece of advice is to look at the people closest to you. Share appreciation statements with them. Tell them what you love and appreciate about them. It needs to be vocalized. Often we can assume that those closest to us know how we feel, but they need to hear it as well. It might be obvious things or other things that no one has every acknowledged before. An example could be the fact that they have excellent organization skills, or they are a very generous person. Call out the greatness that you see in them. Trust me. You will make their day. Another suggestion I LOVE to do is the drive thru challenge. I have done this several times and it is so rewarding! How it works is you pay for your order and the one behind you in any local drive thru. It is so surprising to get to the window and realize that the order is already paid for. I have been the recipient of this very kind gesture as well. It has been such a blessing as it has often come on a day that I really needed encouragement. As simple as it may sound, a free coffee can reap very large dividends on a deep and meaningful level.  Start TodayTomorrow is never promised my friend. Don't hesitate like I used to do. Our gestures of kindness do not have to be perfect. It is the heart that people see and the love behind them that really lingers. You have so much to offer and the world needs your light. Call to Action:
Until next time my friends, I am sending so much love and sunshine your way. You light up a room just be being YOU! Love ya! Dana XO Copyright: © 2025 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi)
 Photo by Katherine Conrad on Unsplash As Christmas is just around the corner, The Shoebox program called Operation Christmas Child is in full swing once again. As per usual our church has been busy collecting boxes and items for this wonderful program sponsored by the organization called, Samaritan’s Purse. I often imagine the kids who will be on the receiving end of these boxes full of treasures, and it always makes me smile. Thinking that this may be the one and only gift these kids will ever receive in their lifetimes, is really hard to fathom. In our society it is not uncommon close to Christmas to see our own Christmas trees at home overflowing with gifts all around it. So many of us are so blessed. For many of us, we do not really need anything at all, yet are still fortunate to have gifts under the tree, year after year with our names on them.  Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels Our family has been packing boxes for twenty five years. It is a beautiful tradition and believe me we try to cram as much as possible into each and every shoebox. I remember the first year we got involved with this wonderful experience vividly. My daughter Shannon was only one at the time, but three-year-old Tyler was delighted to accompany us on our trip to fill the boxes. He had a grand old time at the Dollarama with us. On a mission, he carried a basket around with so much glee and enthusiasm. As I had explained what we were doing, he was perfectly delighted to find lots of great treats and treasures that filled his basket to the absolute brim. To my surprise never once did he ask for things for himself. This was shocking and surprising to me as he was only three. No matter how loaded the basket got, he insisted on carrying it all by himself which was both commendable and sweet. When we were finally ready to check out though, he really struggled to lift his heavy basket onto the checkout counter. This caught the attention of an older lady. In fact she had been curiously observing us for quite some time. As we went to the check-out she very sarcastically said “My, aren’t WE a lucky boy!” Without missing a beat, Tyler completely put that woman in. her. place. saying, “Look lady! These things aren’t for me. They are for the poor children!” The lady, now red in the face, quickly apologized and immediately left the store. This is a moment I will always remember and it does make me chuckle. It is hard to forget when a three-year-old, brings a busybody down to size. I’d say you’ve been told lady and a three-year-old gets it better than you.  Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash It is incredible how this program has helped people look beyond their own experiences. I have seen very poor families come in with boxes and items and I know what a great sacrifice that must have been for them. I have heard of others who instead of buying for each other, pack a box. Other folks host parties where they all bring items and pack boxes as a group. This experience has really brought people together as they strive to show God’s love in practical ways throughout the holiday season. My students in the past have brought in items and helped me pack boxes as well. It really gave them an opportunity to understand how blessed we are in Canada and how giving to others is so very important.  Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash I watched a video on Facebook of children receiving their boxes from Operation Christmas Child and was so touched with the indescribable joy that they showed when the boxes were placed in their hands. What really blew me away was one boy was dancing, high fiving his friends and jumping for joy without even opening the box yet. How many of us would show that level of appreciation before we even unwrapped a gift? Not many I am afraid to say. If anything, we MAY show a smaller version of this after the paper has been shredded, but definitely not before. This is an interesting thing to ponder. You see, the excitement was felt at first in the mere gesture of receiving a gift, and the opening of the gift was really an added bonus. Wow! That short video was very humbling for me, as it showed extreme gratitude in its purest form. I wonder, when have I ever been THAT grateful? It is hard to articulate. Perhaps when I was a child and I received that much hoped for toy? I do remember when Cabbage Patch dolls were all the rage and I wanted one so desperately. Unfortunately if you were able to get ANY Cabbage Patch doll at that time, you were extremely lucky because they were always in short supply. By some miracle though, my parents actually got one and surprised me with it for my birthday. Understandably upon receiving it I was beside myself. I could not comprehend that they had found one. They were THAT hard to buy! From that moment on Raymond Fred and I lived happily ever after and to this day he is a doll I still cherish. My parents had such joy giving him to me too. It was very sweet to witness them grinning from ear to ear as I did the dance of joy with him. So why does it change and getting gifts has become so commonplace for us? We don’t have to wonder IF we will get something, but instead wonder WHAT we will get. This Christmas, let’s not forget about those who are less fortunate. Let’s reflect upon the types of kids who are a part of the shoebox program. Let’s learn from their example and be truly grateful for all we have. Their thankful hearts and appreciation are absolutely inspiring and we can certainly learn much from them. If you are interested in Operational Christmas Child or the great work of Samaritan’s Purse here is the link. Until next time, Dana 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ~ Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Little Lesson Learned: An expression of extreme gratitude is at times a rare occurrence. Let’s be mindful of all we have this holiday season and beyond. Tags: giving gifts, less fortunate, missions, Operation Christmas Child, Samaritans purse, shoebox program, ChristmasCopyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi) second edition / first edition 2015: Smiles in a Shoebox
“Joy: the kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.” ~ David Steindl – Rast Check out part one in this series: |
AuthorDana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, social worker, blogger, author, motivational speaker and recording artist. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much-needed encouragement. She lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working in the classroom or blogging, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books. |  The joys of my life: Tyler and Shannon, now 25 and 28. |  Click here for Where Joy Lives Part One in the Joy Series |
Photo by Olesia Buyar on Unsplash
“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy
and keep choosing it every day.”
~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
and keep choosing it every day.”
~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
The Christmas season is upon us and once again it is hard to believe how fast the year has gone by. The hustle and bustle of the season can leave us with a variety of emotions ranging from excitement to complete exhaustion.
As a young girl I loved to watch the Christmas specials every year. Among the cherished favourites was A Charlie Brown’s Christmas, which my siblings and I watched with great pleasure as a special and cherished family tradition.
Christmas was always a happy time for me growing up. I came from a strong, Christian family who loved each other dearly and put Christ at the center of Christmas. Christmas and life in general were all that it should be in my corner of the world as I was very unfamiliar with anything different. Naively I assumed that most families had the same experience as I did. With this is mind, it is understandable how I could not identify with people who did not have the joy of the season.
I recall being very confused when Charlie Brown confides in Lucy that he is struggling with feelings of sadness over the holidays, yet to his dismay he can’t quite pinpoint the reason. As a child that seemed inconceivable to me that anyone, especially a child could be sad at Christmas. Fortunately for Charlie Brown he made it through the holidays. With the support of friends and getting engaged in holiday traditions such as being involved in a Christmas play; he eventually finds peace and joy over the holidays. Needless to say though, it was definitely a painful process for him.
As I got older, it made complete sense to me. I came to realize that many people in life are very much like Charlie Brown. He was not as exceptional as I had once imagined.
The holidays lose their magic as you age and others too have difficulty with the holiday season. For some depression and sadness linger over the holidays like a heavy cloak. They hear songs like It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year over the loud speaker and all they want to do is cry. For them this time of year is anything but wonderful and certainly not the “happiest season of all,” as the song states.
Many people have deep sorrow and sadness in their lives throughout the year and the holidays can only accentuate that further in many cases.
Some have lost loved ones and their painful absence at a family get-together can be almost unbearable. Where some may hope the Christmas season like magic can make all sadness disappear, this is realistically not the case.
Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash
In my work as a clinical social worker at the Salvation Army I heard many sad stories of lives torn apart from substance abuse, poverty, great loss, and family dysfunction. It was especially difficult at Christmas for many. With all their other problems, these people were often living below the poverty line, so purchasing gifts was extremely challenging.
This is where the joy of giving rather than receiving really took action. The Salvation Army provides food baskets and toys for needy families year after year and it was so exciting to be a part of that rewarding process. As I would hand out bags of toys to thankful parents it was extremely touching to see the gratitude and relief on their faces. They knew that their Christmas would be a bit brighter due a little help from a caring community.
The carol Joy to the World understandably comes to mind when pondering this season. The lyrics are “Joy to the world. The Lord is come. Let Heaven and nature sing. Let every heart prepare him room.” The last line really hits home. The concept of “let every heart prepare Him room” is very thought provoking.
This speaks of the need and desire we all have to experience true joy, yet we need to make room for the One who is the "true joy giver."
Individually the choice is ours.
I was taught in Sunday school that to have true joy (J-O-Y), it meant to have Jesus first (J) others next (O) and yourself last. (Y) This does seem like a winning formula, yet many have not discovered this yet. Each person needs to prepare Christ room in his or her heart, yet sadly many have not taken that important step. Hearts can be so full of other desires, dreams, and pursuits that people miss the true reason they were created.
We were created to love God and put Him first. It says in God’s word: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33) The “all these things” that this verse is speaking of includes the joy that we all are seeking. When we have our priorities straight and Christ is at the center of our lives, He helps us each day to discover the joy we desire.
We were never promised a perfect life as Christ followers, but we were also never meant to live this life on our own. In each one of us there is a deep void that longs to be filled to make us whole, and healthy individuals. Too many people are living life on autopilot. Their lives have become routine, perhaps comfortable, yet sadly no passion remains. Too often people seek to fill that void with fleeting whims and fancies and their joy dissipates like a puff of smoke. Empty and frustrated, they wonder when their lives will change. The Bible says that Christ came as a baby at Christmas to lead us to a life that is abundant and full, not stressful, and meaningless.
This is where the joy of giving rather than receiving really took action. The Salvation Army provides food baskets and toys for needy families year after year and it was so exciting to be a part of that rewarding process. As I would hand out bags of toys to thankful parents it was extremely touching to see the gratitude and relief on their faces. They knew that their Christmas would be a bit brighter due a little help from a caring community.
The carol Joy to the World understandably comes to mind when pondering this season. The lyrics are “Joy to the world. The Lord is come. Let Heaven and nature sing. Let every heart prepare him room.” The last line really hits home. The concept of “let every heart prepare Him room” is very thought provoking.
This speaks of the need and desire we all have to experience true joy, yet we need to make room for the One who is the "true joy giver."
Individually the choice is ours.
I was taught in Sunday school that to have true joy (J-O-Y), it meant to have Jesus first (J) others next (O) and yourself last. (Y) This does seem like a winning formula, yet many have not discovered this yet. Each person needs to prepare Christ room in his or her heart, yet sadly many have not taken that important step. Hearts can be so full of other desires, dreams, and pursuits that people miss the true reason they were created.
We were created to love God and put Him first. It says in God’s word: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33) The “all these things” that this verse is speaking of includes the joy that we all are seeking. When we have our priorities straight and Christ is at the center of our lives, He helps us each day to discover the joy we desire.
We were never promised a perfect life as Christ followers, but we were also never meant to live this life on our own. In each one of us there is a deep void that longs to be filled to make us whole, and healthy individuals. Too many people are living life on autopilot. Their lives have become routine, perhaps comfortable, yet sadly no passion remains. Too often people seek to fill that void with fleeting whims and fancies and their joy dissipates like a puff of smoke. Empty and frustrated, they wonder when their lives will change. The Bible says that Christ came as a baby at Christmas to lead us to a life that is abundant and full, not stressful, and meaningless.
Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash
Are there any Charlie Brown’s out there?
Do you feel that there is joy everywhere else but in your corner of the world? Don’t despair. Happiness is a choice and with God by our sides, the burdens we carry become more bearable. This Christmas can be a real turning point for all of us if we allow it. As we choose to let Christ’s joy penetrate our lives, it spills out to others and changes us for the better.
Have you “prepared Him room” in your heart or perhaps you need to “prepare Him more room” in your heart?
These are questions only you can answer. Allowing Christ into your life and heart is the greatest Christmas gift you can give yourself. Preparing room for Him in your heart will put you on the path to the most joy filled and purposeful life you have ever known. The gift is just waiting for you! Won’t you open and receive it this Christmas?
~ Until next time,
Dana
Nehemiah 8:10 ~ Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Little Lesson Learned: A relationship with Christ is the best gift you could give yourself this holiday season. If you have never received this gift, won’t you consider it?
Copyright © 2021 littlelessonslearnedbydana
Do you feel that there is joy everywhere else but in your corner of the world? Don’t despair. Happiness is a choice and with God by our sides, the burdens we carry become more bearable. This Christmas can be a real turning point for all of us if we allow it. As we choose to let Christ’s joy penetrate our lives, it spills out to others and changes us for the better.
Have you “prepared Him room” in your heart or perhaps you need to “prepare Him more room” in your heart?
These are questions only you can answer. Allowing Christ into your life and heart is the greatest Christmas gift you can give yourself. Preparing room for Him in your heart will put you on the path to the most joy filled and purposeful life you have ever known. The gift is just waiting for you! Won’t you open and receive it this Christmas?
~ Until next time,
Dana
Nehemiah 8:10 ~ Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Little Lesson Learned: A relationship with Christ is the best gift you could give yourself this holiday season. If you have never received this gift, won’t you consider it?
Copyright © 2021 littlelessonslearnedbydana
Author
Dana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, social worker, blogger, and author. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much-needed encouragement. She lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working in the classroom or blogging, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books.
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