A Daily Meditation From
One in the Spirit: Meditation Course for Recovering Couples
Holiday Expectations
Challenge:
Each of us draws a mental picture when the phrase “holiday season” is introduced. For many, the image is a happy one filled with rich tradition and hope for renewal. Others dread the coming of the holidays because the images are dark or chaotic. Especially during the holiday season, many will attempt to produce the behavior and mood that others expect of them. Still others will be attempting to paint their own personal portrait of expectations into the minds of those they love. Whatever your experience, many couples encounter a great deal of stress in their relationships during the holidays. Many relationships have come to expect the agitation and the disagreements. It does not have to be that way.
Reflection:
There are no rules for how to behave during the holiday celebrations. You and your partner can share time-honored traditions or make up new ones. Your family may have rigid expectations of how the holidays are to be celebrated, but you do not have to be directed by the pictures that others have. Take time to discuss what the experiences of days past were like and what about them you would like to change. The emotional scrapbook you have contains many pictures that you can replace if the two of you have the mind to do so. Take the risk to celebrate one holiday with NO RULES!
Prayer:
God, help me to look beyond the storefront window for the picture that will celebrate life, love, and sobriety.
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