Thursday, December 15, 2011

What Is Family?


What is family? Was I asking myself this question because of the eminent holiday season, a time in which so many of us find ourselves gathered together with our family members? And for some it can be a time in which it is “for better or for worst”. For many of us it is not TV’s Cosby family, the typical Hallmark family or even the Blue Bloods’, Regan family. This fictional cop family clearly demonstrates what their family is all about. Each show ends with the family having dinner together on a Sunday at the home of the patriarch.  This act of praying and breaking bread together is a reminder of what family is all about.

Too often we get caught up in what was said and not said, or what we think should have been done or not done by a family member. We lose sleep over it… we stop talking to one another and can’t even remember the last time we uttered a civil word to each other... because of what? over what? And now the holidays are here and just because it is Thanksgiving or Christmas we are all of a sudden suppose to be this big happy family? Well, as anyone who has ever experienced a ‘dust up’ over the holidays knows, that the “suppose” to be, holiday family doesn’t work.

What does work is supporting each other, listening to each other, sharing with genuine truth and honesty, not having the fear of being judged; knowing that in a spirit of love you can be told that you were wrong. Each one of us who is a part of a family unit knows the areas in which we need to work on to strengthen our family and ourselves. May we strive to pray and break bread together and always have the ability to cry together and to laugh together like only a family can do. Not just as ‘Seen On TV’, but also in the real world.

Trish










To Families everywhere have a Wonderful Christmas!
And may it be filled with Love, Joy and Peace
Throughout the New Year!

Trish Nicholas Photography @ www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography

To Purchase Photos Courtesy of Redbubble @ http://www.redbubble.com/people/tmeian

Please feel free to contact me with any inquiries regarding commercial use of my photographs.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 NIV

http://feedingamerica.org/

http://www.toppsinc.org/

http://www.rescue.org/

http://www.stjude.org/

Thursday, December 1, 2011

A Gift of Rebirth, Renewal and Hope

Gift – Something given, something that you give as a present, the act of giving something to somebody.

My December Blog posting has always been somewhat of a challenge for me, since December is such a special month. It is a time for giving something and receiving something that is given. The greatest gift that we have ever received gives us the power to have rebirth, renewal and hope. This month is a buzz with new energy, strength and enthusiasm because of a single gift that was given many years ago.

I celebrate this gift throughout the year and take the time at Christmas to remember the gift that was given and received by me and many others. It is a beautiful gift that can not be torn, or ripped or lost or stolen. So as we think about “getting” ready for Christmas, shopping for presents, time away from work and merriment with family and friends, consider the gift that was given. The Bethlehem story is more than a Christmas story it is about receiving a gift.

Trish

St. Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said unto them, fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

The greatest Christmas gift of all
Was never placed beneath a tree,
But lay within a manger
Beneath a star, for all to see. Unknown










May you have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends and a blessed New Year!

* Photo: Winter Street by LJN
Trish Nicholas Photography @ www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography To Purchase Photos Courtesty of Redbubble @ http://www.redbubble.com/people/tmeian
Please feel free to contact me with any inquiries regarding commercial use of my photographs.

http://www.harmonyproject.org/

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

http://joiningforces.uso.org/

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/