Thanksgiving
The holidays bring lots of family, friends, gifts, meals, and...depression. There are many for whom the holidays are harbingers of remembered pain. A parent who made the holidays terrifying. A spouse whose holiday activities tore the family into pieces. Those memories can make the holidays into times of suffering and pain. How to survive if you are one for whom the holidays bring such memories? I may have a couple of suggestions. In The Canterbury Tales , a nun carries a banner with this emblazened on it: Amor Omnia Vincit . (Love conquers all) That is a great place to start. If you can center yourself on the fact of God's love, you will begin to see creation in its proper order: with our loving Father God in the center. This image is how things are supposed to be in the Kingdom of God. Despite those who hurt us, the fact of God's love can be a great and a healing influence. Second, if you can simply avoid those who hurt you or cause holiday disturbances. Despite the