I am so very thankful for each and every one of you who faithfully read my blog. I love hearing from you, hearing your stories and how my posts encourage you. It makes a difference knowing the things I write and share are helpful.

I want to make sure I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas! Because I write about chronic illness and Lyme disease, I’m very aware of the struggles that you face as you approach your holiday.

I know all too well the struggle to get everything ready on time, pushing to the point of exhaustion so that our children will have a great Christmas, putting on a little extra makeup so that no one would notice exactly how terrible we feel.

I remember not wanting to make long trips to visit family because it physically hurt to sit that long. Then there was the extra burden of packing up special food, supplements, and medications and making sure everyone took what they needed when they needed it.

Holidays put an extra burden on the ones with a chronic illness and chronic pain, that most people wouldn’t understand. It’s common to overexert yourself on these special days only to spend the following days in bed recuperating.

Even so, I want to encourage you to enjoy your Christmas as much as you can. Enjoy every minute, every smell, every word from your Christmas Eve service. Enjoy watching your family as they open gifts and spend time together. What you allow your mind to focus on will make all the difference for you as you celebrate these next few days. Even if your circumstances are less than ideal, find the positive, find the blessings, and learn to enjoy the little things.

Remember, Christmas is a celebration of the Lord Jesus’s birth and the miracle that lies within.

I pray that you and your family will have good health, peace, and happiness as you share time together.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!