Dear Friends,
The holidays can be a mixed bag, can't they? There are so many wonderful things to be thankful for on the one hand. I am deeply thankful for the chance to be with some family and good friends this week who we don't always get to see. I'm so thankful for excuses to bake gingersnaps and enjoy the aroma of apple cider with mulling spices simmering on the stove. I'm thankful for inspiration to write a new Christmas LOVE song (which I will be performing at the Black Sheep on Dec. 19th, by the way) and for the spirit of generosity and the joy of together-ness that surrounds us as Salvation Army bells emerge with their accompanying bright red kettles, the festive colors of holiday decor, presents under the tree and the coziness of warm mitten-ed hands wrapped around a mug of steaming hot chocolate.
On the other hand, this time of year can also remind us of what we are missing. I have family on the other side of the country that I haven't seen for a year and will not be able to see them this Christmas. Today, I don't feel emotional about that, but I know that tomorrow and Christmas day, I may be a bit sullen and sad as I have been on other holidays when I miss them so much. Then with the downturn of the economy, I think of some who may be longing to create a magical and meaningful Thanksgiving and Christmas for their families, but struggle to simply have a full meal with all the usual holiday dressings.
So we pray today for inner peace, for joy in the simple beauties that surround us, for forgiveness where there's broken relationship, for comfort for families that must be apart and so deeply long to be together, for hope in the midst of uncertainty and for contentment with the abundance that we do have in each other, in music, in laughter, in soup and bread, in home-made decorations, reusable gift bags and in opportunities to share.
Many thanks this Thanksgiving to you and for you, for your support of Heatherlyn Music and for the stories you share as you seek to be part of something bigger than yourselves this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Peace - Hope - Life,
heatherlyn
Heatherlyn Music | P.O. Box 1615 | Burnsville | MN | 55337
