Peace and Good Will

Aren't those words hard to believe at times?

 

Turn on the news and you are bombarded with all the things that are wrong in our state, our country, and the world. It can easily leave you frustrated and depressed.

 

I am as guilty as anyone else. With the recent events in Newtown, Connecticut, I have been watching the news more than usual and wanting answers to questions that will likely never come. My heart has been saddened as so many families have had to deal with the loss of a loved one in such a horrific way.

 

While we shouldn't insulate ourselves from the world and what is going on, it is important to strike a good balance. Once you watch the news, turn the TV off and spend an equal amount of time doing something uplifting. There is a lot of good in the world, unfortunately it just takes a little more work to find it sometimes.

 

Here are some spiritual ways to be reminded of all the great around us:

 

Listen to some uplifting music (I suggest Life 96.1 or 107.1!)

 

Read the Bible

 

Do a daily devotion

 

Spend some time in prayer

 

But you aren't limited to these - you can also create your own good news:

 

Take some cookies to a neighbor

 

Buy a coffee for the person behind you in line

 

Watch someone's kids for a few hours so they can run some errands

 

Go through your pantry and pull out a few items for the food bank

 

Call someone you haven't talked to in a while

 

Send a card to someone to let them know you are thinking of them.

 

Creating good doesn't have to be expensive...in fact it doesn't have to cost a thing at all.

 

Once in a while, at the end of a newscast you will hear, "and now for a good news story...." Wouldn't it be awesome if the news was filled with good news and hearing of good deeds, with only an occasional, "and now for a sad story" instead?

Yesterday on Facebook I saw where people were doing 26 random acts of kindness in memory of the 26 victims in Newtown, Ct.  We couldn't wait to join in and within a few hours were ready to start on our list of the 26. 


Here are the cards we made up to give with each act of kindness: 

And on the envelope we wrote:  "In Memory of..." with the victim's name and age.
 

It's a wonderful way to be reminded yourself as well as remind others how much good there is in the world. 

 

Have a Blessed Christmas filled with good will and peace!