{"id":227,"date":"2012-12-06T01:00:57","date_gmt":"2012-12-06T01:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=227"},"modified":"2012-11-27T23:54:49","modified_gmt":"2012-11-27T23:54:49","slug":"advent-2012-word-play-how-do-you-say-merry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2012\/12\/advent-2012-word-play-how-do-you-say-merry.html","title":{"rendered":"Advent 2012: Word Play: How Do You Say, “Merry?”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Image courtesy of lamnee\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Advent: Day 5<\/p>\n

Word Play: How do you say, “Merry?”<\/p>\n

“Merry Christmas!” “Merry Merry!” Meeerrrrrry Christmas!”<\/p>\n

We say it so often this month that we find ourselves saying it differently, whether just for variety or for emphasis.<\/p>\n

But, what does “merry” mean, anyway? Or, more precisely, what does it mean to each of us. For, as much as we might be pressured by things and people around us to all be celebratory and merry in the same way, the truth is that even this most festive of feelings is very individual.<\/p>\n

For some, “merry” is synonymous with parties, eating and drinking –\u00a0“making merry.” For others, “merry” is a mild smile, a glint in the eye, and a desire to spread humor and joy (think of the person who wears a Santa hat to the office on the day before his or her vacation). For still others,\u00a0it might be difficult to express merriment\u00a0fully because of other things\u00a0they are experiencing – loss, pain, illness, personal struggles that seem to weigh\u00a0down and take the fun out of the season.<\/p>\n

Mindful that we each have a unique and different sense of what “merry” is inside, when I tell someone “Merry Christmas,” I’m thinking “Good Christmas.” That is, I hope that in\u00a0the joy of God made man, the birth of the Christ Child, all will feel a stirring of merriment that comes from receiving a precious, wondrous gift.<\/p>\n

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

Maureen<\/p>\n

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

Advent: Day 5 Word Play: How do you say, “Merry?” “Merry Christmas!” “Merry Merry!” Meeerrrrrry Christmas!” We say it so often this month that we find ourselves saying it differently, whether just for variety or for emphasis. But, what does “merry” mean, anyway? Or, more precisely, what does it mean to each of us. 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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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