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Welcome to Volume 18 of Living on the Edge, the fortnightly newsletter from Living Edge Life Coaching, designed to inform, educate, challenge and inspire you!
For previous volumes click here.
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Annabel Varvel
Life Coach BA.LLB
COACHING CORNER
12 tips for the 12 days of Christmas!
With just over 12 days till Christmas I thought we'd take a look at 12 tips to get through the 12 days leading up to Christmas. I'll leave the 10 tips for women till January (but don't worry guys we will get to it!!)
1. Remember the reason for the season
With all the Christmas shopping, parties, drinks and food at this time of year it's easy to forget what Christmas is all about. I guess obviously it is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus. On top of that it's usually a time to celebrate family and friends. The story below was emailed to me a few days ago and I think it's a good reminder about the reason behind Christmas.
2. Remember those not as fortunate
There are many people who struggle to buy Christmas presents for their children and food for Christmas lunch. It's a good opportunity to be generous to others. You'll find most churches have a Christmas appeal you can donate food or gifts to as do most shopping centres. This is a good reminder to me to send Christmas cards to our sponsor children.
3. Only spend what you can afford
I know, shopping can be addictive. I know, you have LOTS of people to shop for. Just remember 17% interest on your credit card is a LOT of money. Don't spend what you don't have - then you won't regret it all in January.
4. Make some presents
Making presents can be personal and cheaper. This includes Christmas cards too. Check out all the lovely cooking magazines out at the moment they have lots of good ideas.
5. Get enough sleep
Need I say more?
6. Make time for some exercise
This will give you more energy and also will work off some of the extra food we all eat at this time of year. It also means that you don't get out of the habit.
7. Watch what you drink
Drink lots of water in amongst the nice cocktails and wine!
8. Get organised
We are having both our families at our place for Christmas and with my mushy 'baby-brain' I am trying to write lots of LISTS so I don't forget all the little things that have to be done.
9. Remember the love languages
Remember the info on love languages - show love to those around you - it can be easy to forget in all the busyness of the season.
10. Entertain
Use the opportunity to have some friends over and join in the festivities. It doesn't have to be complicated.
11. Sing some carols
I've got to admit I love Christmas carols and have been singing some to Alexander lately (I'm glad he smiles and doesn't know the difference between a good and bad voice yet!). Sing some in the car - at least makes you laugh at yourself which is always good therapy.
12. Buy a hamper!
This is shameless advertising for my parent's hamper business!! They make lovely hampers and send them across Australia - orders close on Monday so call them now to order: 1300 654 144.
.Two Babies
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage.
They related the following story in their own words:
It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.
Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.
Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. (No colored paper was available in the city.)
Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help.
All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat-he looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger.
Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.
Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did.
But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, "If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift" And Jesus told me, "If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me." "So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him-for always."
As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him-FOR ALWAYS.
I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
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and astonish the rest.
Mark Twain
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