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Embracing the season of hope . . .
Can it possibly be true that December is here? Like so many other Northwest Floridians, I have been counting the days until the end of the hurricane season, and now the holidays have caught us off-guard! But it does feel good, and right, that it is so: our season of fear has ended at last, and we now find ourselves immersed in the season of hope.
Instead of boarded windows, there are garlands of greenery and lights, gone are the stacks of yard debris and in their place now stand plastic Santas and grape vine reindeer. Looking past the décor, beyond the superficial, there is also a sigh of relief and a slowly returning optimism. As it should be. Whether you will be celebrating Hanukkah or Christmas, the message is of deliverance and love.
Let’s amplify the message of hope by supporting each other, embracing the renewed sense of community and allowing ourselves to stop and savor the growing evidence of renewal.
Concentrate your spending in the local area to help vendors recover, and splurge on yourself for an extra dinner out at a local restaurant you’ll feel better and they’ll feel supported!
We may not have recovered as quickly as we’d expected from the past 15 months of ravaging storms, but we are survivors. Just as Hanukkah marks God’s provision of just enough oil to keep the lamps burning, we have been blessed with just enough progress and recovery to embolden us once again for the future. The tiny baby Christ, Emmanuel, warms Christian hearts at Christmas; a message of unbelievable love and sacrifice which ended in eternal victory over even death. A perspective which blesses each of us as we move forward into the season of hope, embracing renewal with faith.
Enjoy and blessed season,
Vici and Lisa
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