{"id":966,"date":"2013-12-24T19:16:40","date_gmt":"2013-12-24T19:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=966"},"modified":"2013-12-24T19:19:39","modified_gmt":"2013-12-24T19:19:39","slug":"christmas-dawns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/12\/christmas-dawns.html","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Dawns!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Crecheforblog\"<\/a>It doesn’t matter how much there is still left to do, nor how much will go undone. \u00a0It doesn’t matter that the Christmas cake is a little over-cooked, nor that the casserole doesn’t taste exactly like grandmother’s did. Ingredients omitted, a gift forgotten, snow, rain, ice, cold – whether or not these things are or are not isn’t the point.<\/p>\n

The point is, the miracle is – Christmas dawns! God’s love is poured out for us, upon us, once again. Wherever we live, whoever we are, He has sent His Son to live among us and we rejoice all over again at this tremendous gift that is greater than all others.<\/p>\n

I know that, today, there are many among us who are hurting. People afraid, in pain. Perhaps your are one of them. Perhaps you have suffered great losses this year, and are still experiencing the fresh, biting stings of sadness from them. Perhaps, too, you did not get to do as much as you wanted to during the holiday season. You missed people, parties, and health. I did, too. \u00a0And no doubt there will be more challenges in the days and year ahead. But, through it all, in spite of it all, I can raise a hearty “Gloria!” For the point is not the parties or all of the external things we might have done. The point is faith and how it glows and grows in the light of God’s love. The point is finding the grace in our lives and letting it encourage and inspire us, as it does today.<\/p>\n

Yes, Christmas dawns today and always, in our hearts and in our faith. Christ is born! \u00a0God loves us, no matter who, where, or what we are. Yes, He loves us – now and forever!<\/p>\n

Amen and, yes!, Alleluia!<\/p>\n

A very blessed Christmas to you,<\/p>\n

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

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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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