“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
The holidays are the most family-oriented weeks of the year. Yet for many – those who have no family, singles, widows and widowers, the divorced among us, and those with painful and negative family experiences – the holidays can be the most difficult time of the year.
As a pastor, every year I had parishioners who asked me in early November to pray for them to make it through the holidays. The hard reality is that lonely, depressed, and anxious people are lonelier, more depressed, and more anxious during the “jolliest season” than at any other time of the year.
At the same time, the last four weeks of the year are filled with joy and happiness for millions of people and their families. Whether the holiday season is your favorite time or your most difficult time of the year, I want to share a Christmas prescription that can bring the true meaning of Christmas to your holidays and to every day of your new year.
To begin, try to block out the advertising blitz of commercial Christmas we have today. Carefully read the Christmas scriptures in the first two chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and then read the first 18 verses of the Gospel of John.
God told a devout peasant girl what He was going to do. Mary believed God, but she asked God questions and pondered these things in her heart.
Dick Woodward, “A Christmas Prescription”
Editor’s Note: During the month of December, the blog posting elf will share excerpts from one of Papa’s booklets, “A Christmas Prescription.” Be blessed as we ponder the Christmas that was, the Christmas that shall be, and the Christmas that is.
4SpiritualSecrets 
Bless you blog posting elf, for keeping the mighty work the Spirit chose to do through your father, fresh and present during this time of year that we might remember what a Mighty loving God we serve, Who sets the poor at an abundant banquet table!