Thriving, a Focus on the Light, a Small Giveaway

Since I am focusing on the Light this Advent season (if you missed Filling the Empty Vessel, read it here), I was inspired by a segment on the Today Show.

Hoda Kotb pretended to be a meter maid and gave “tickets” to unsuspecting car owners. Inside the “ticket” envelope were tickets to concerts, ball games, orchestral events, etc.

Many unsuspecting people were understandably upset until they opened their “ticket” and discovered that they were, in fact, gifted with tickets.

What a great light in someone’s day!

Bringing that light can add some joy to someone’s life. Some may argue that it is only happiness for a moment, but I think it offers a little more. Perhaps that happiness might be fleeting, but a stronger component of happiness is hope. I recently was paid more, yes, *more*, for a photo shoot that I did. I didn’t expect it. It was an incredible blessing to our family, particularly around the holidays, and it made me smile. Opening the card brought me happiness, but that feeling of goodness and generosity continues to encourage me and inspire me. It begs me to do something for others, and it gives me hope that I am where I need to be.

I’ve been following Matthew Kelly’s Best Advent Ever through Dynamic Catholic. If you aren’t familiar with his writing, I’d encourage you to check it out. More on that later. I’ve followed him for years, and every time he comes out with a new book, I admit, I get a little giddy. They never fail to force me to evaluate the way I live my life.

Also, as I am working on thriving and focusing on the Light this Advent, Kelly’s new book, Resisting Happiness, fits right in. How often, during the hustle and bustle of the Advent and Christmas season, do we lose focus and become so consumed with all that we have to do instead of focusing on the true meaning of Christmas? How many times do we put up roadblocks to happiness? How many times do we push aside the things we know will truly make us happy, in favor of something that might make us happy for the moment?

I try to give my children opportunities to serve. I’ll be honest, I could do a lot better, but we try to focus on smaller things ~ making cookies for neighbors, crafting homemade presents for friends and family, donating toys for those less fortunate, the Advent giving tree at our church, being kind to those we pass on the street, handing a coffee or a meal to someone shivering with all of their possessions on the Square, inviting those whose families are distant to our home - especially around the holidays. As I am sure you know, the greatest gift is how strangers often become life-long friends after one small act of kindness.

I am working through Truth in the Tinsel this year and reading Ishtar’s Odyssey every night with my girls, and I truly hope that the connections we make in our family story time and Bible reading with the smaller things that we do throughout the year allow them to see that they are the light – no matter how small.

I’ve added some photos from our Truth in the Tinsel crafts because what brings a light to my life and happiness in my heart is watching my girls grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Making the Light of Baby Jesus stained glass project.

Creating a crown for our Baby Jesus.

Crafting materials surrounding our oil lamp.

This is one of my favorite ornaments, given to me by a mom in our homeschool group. I love putting it up in my window so I can enjoy the light coming through.

Zechariah's mouth being "closed" when he didn't believe that Elizabeth would give birth to a son.

The angel Gabriel.

Applying some "light" to her stable.

The finished product ~ love the light shining above Baby Jesus. Craft from Michael's, but I forgot to save the box, so I don't know where to point you for this foam craft.

OK, so as I think about what makes me truly happy, I am giving away a couple of copies of Resisting Happiness. On Wednesday, one lucky commenter will be chosen at random to receive the first book giveaway.

What do you need to do? Matthew Kelly asks us in chapter 2 of his book to think about what really makes you happy. I am not going to ask you to do anything crazy and soul-searching ~ but I do encourage you to take some time to do that. Comment below the post with one (or two or three) thing that makes you happy. That is it.

Happy Advent, friends ~ thrive, be the light, and find what truly makes you happy.