Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Christmas is coming up very soon (almost less than a week!)! This is my absolute favourite holiday. It is such a cheerful time. Snow falls from the sky and makes everything look bright and white. Christmas songs lighten up the mood. People smile and laugh more often. We give gifts to others and enjoy seeing them smile and become surprised. Families and friends gather together and enjoy quality time with one another. (Here's a fun challenge: try to learn, using the picture here, a way of saying Merry Christmas in a different language!)

If you are religious, Christmas is also the birth of Christ. So, you can think of Christmas as being someone's birthday - Jesus'! It is wonderful to think that we are welcoming baby Jesus into the world on this day. The birth of Christ not only reminds us of how humble Jesus was to come to earth and be born as human, but also challenges us to change our hearts so that we too can welcome Jesus into our hearts.

Something I love about Christmas is being around my family and friends. Spending time with people I love and whom love me makes me feel warm and special. It reminds me of what is really important. It also gives me an opportunity to be thankful for everything that I have in this world. I am alive and healthy, and I have a great support system. God has blessed me with a love for learning and teaching, and this helps me do well in school and help others. My blog has become an international site that many read for inspiration, advice, entertainment, and guidance. Christmas is also a great time to start thinking of goals that we would like to achieve.

My Christmas wish this year is that we all continue to grow in love for one another. I hope that your days are full of blessings and smiles. Remember to stay strong and not to let anyone or anything make you feel inferior or unworthy of happiness or love. No one is worth your tears or frustrations. The world is full of people who will always dislike you or be jealous of you. Love them anyways, and pray for them (I know this is hard, but at least you will be doing the right thing and showing some maturity!). Do not let anyone treat you as though you are not as good as they are. Do not let someone crush your goals or dreams or make you feel bad about yourself. Make a  healthy goal or have a dream - and then follow it. Challenges will undoubtedly arise, but know that you are stronger than anything that comes your way. Never give up, and never (even for a second) think or feel that you are not destined to be happy or successful. I am telling you - and giving you the permission to feel and understand - that you are WORTH IT. You are BEAUTIFUL and SPECIAL and you deserve to BE HAPPY. Surround yourself with people who you love and SMILE and LAUGH. Make this Christmas and holiday season a time of PEACE and make up with anyone you may have hurt or fought with. Get rid of all the hate and sadness, and replace it with LOVE and JOY.

I pray that anyone who is ill, hurt, struggling, tired, frustrated, sad, alone, etc may be healed or have some pain taken away from them. I pray for those with hard hearts who are harsh or angry - I pray that God may instill peace within their hearts. I pray that this blog continue to be a place where we can share our thoughts together, learn, teach, pray, support, and help one another. I pray that God may bless each and every reader of this blog - whether you comment or not. Thank you for taking the time to read these words and for passing it along to anyone who may need it.

Thank you, everyone, for giving me the love, support, guidance, and care that has allowed me to  grow emotionally, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and spiritually Thank you for supporting me in my recovery and for the prayers that are lifted for me. You are all so wonderful and hold an important place in my heart. Please enjoy this lovely time with your family and friends, eat well, laugh hard, smile wide, and spread some love. From my heart to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays!!!

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