{"id":1262,"date":"2014-07-14T19:22:12","date_gmt":"2014-07-14T19:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1262"},"modified":"2014-07-12T19:30:24","modified_gmt":"2014-07-12T19:30:24","slug":"lets-hear-it-for-christmas-in-july","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2014\/07\/lets-hear-it-for-christmas-in-july.html","title":{"rendered":"Let’s Hear It for Christmas in July!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Crecheforblog\"<\/a>I used to think that “Christmas in July” events were only commercial enterprises, destined to convince people to “shop now!” or “buy now!” But, this year, I’m embracing “Christmas in July” for what it truly can be – a reminder to kindle and care for the precious spirit of Christmas all year round, especially when the weather is the hottest and we’re not bundled up protectively against frigid winter temps.<\/p>\n

Yes, by this time of the year, many of us are already tired of doctors’ appointments and procedures, pain and illness, and the push-pull of flares that bring us in and out of activities. We might feel that proverbial “murky middle” of time, when we are slogging through individual days and not feeling as if we’re making much progress.<\/p>\n

Celebrating Christmas in July, however slightly, helps revive more tender feelings of comfort, light, and fellowship. Hearing a carol reminds us of the gift of the baby Jesus that is not just for the month of December, but year round.<\/p>\n

We don’t have to buy a thing in order to stir up the flame of joy at God’s self-less gift, his Son born of Mary. All we have to do is turn to Christmas, now, for it is ever-ready, even beneath the blistering mid-summer sun.<\/p>\n

Blessings for the day,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I used to think that “Christmas in July” events were only commercial enterprises, destined to convince people to “shop now!” or “buy now!” But, this year, I’m embracing “Christmas in July” for what it truly can be – a reminder to kindle and care for the precious spirit of Christmas all year round, especially when…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[241,4,383,95],"tags":[1132,2120,1130,19,537,265,1131,30],"class_list":["post-1262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christmas","category-words-of-encouragemnent-and-info-for-all","category-heart-health","category-prayers","tag-celebrating-christmas","tag-christmas","tag-christmas-in-july","tag-illness","tag-jesus","tag-joy","tag-mid-year-slump","tag-pain"],"yoast_head":"\nLet's Hear It for Christmas in July! - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2014\/07\/lets-hear-it-for-christmas-in-july.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Let's Hear It for Christmas in July! 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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