Holidays with the Help ClubSample

Where do You Shine Your Spotlight?

by Deb Weakly

Thanksgiving week is almost here and our hearts are drawn to all the nostalgia of home and family. We long for the delicious smells of turkey, au-gratin potatoes, and pumpkin pies cooking in the oven, and the sounds of people laughing and having fun together while the kids run all around the house.

As moms of the home, we have worked so hard to get to this day. The shopping, cooking, and decorating have all been completed. Now, all we need is for the family to arrive so the festivities can begin. And, for some families, this is where the hard part of our holiday season can often begin— when the family arrives. 

I meet sweet moms all over the place who have been hurt by the ones closest to them. The holidays serve as reminders of a harsh word spoken or a wound unhealed. These memories can steal the joy of precious time spent with family.

Some have family members who get on their nerves after time spent together and cause irritation as each day passes until everyone goes home. As I speak with these sweet moms, I say one phrase to them that I feel can help make their holidays better, and I thought I would share this with you too:

Where do you shine your spotlight? In other words, what do you choose to focus on in the other person? 

In our minds, we all have a “spotlight” with which we shine on the good or the not-so-good aspects of people and circumstances simply by what we think about. Our thoughts and attention go to where we focus—for better or for worse. So when you think about a particular loved one, do you think about the hurt, wound, or annoying habits, or do you see a fellow human being in need of a Savior and unconditional love as we do?    

I would love to share a few Scriptures and tips to help your holiday season be the best it can possibly be. As with everything else in life, I believe the Lord wants us mamas to come to Him with our bitterness, burdens, and sadness. He wants us to focus on His goodness and His everlasting, healing Word, and choose to love like Jesus as much as possible. 

When we go to God’s Word, we read things like: 

• Be content (Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 4:11) 
• Get rid of all bitterness (Ephesians 4:31)
• Love one another deeply (1 Peter 4:8)
• Be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 
• Count your blessings (Psalm 118:1, Ephesians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
• Forgive (Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:32)
• Stay hopeful and believe the best intentions of others (1 Corinthians 13:7) (Philippians 4:8) 

May I suggest writing these verses down in your journal or in a dry erase marker on your bathroom mirror to keep them close to you during the holiday season? 

Sweet friend, it all boils down to keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, meditating on the Scriptures, praying, and obeying by faith, especially in the area of relationships. Do what Philippians 4:8 says and think true, excellent, honorable, and lovely thoughts. Refuse to think bitter, resentful, critical, or unkind thoughts. 

Ask God to help you think like Jesus, love like Jesus, and forgive like Jesus. Assume the best as much as possible. Pray to see people the way God does, and ask Him to help you to love them as He does. Spotlight the good! 

So how about you, friend? Where do you shine your spotlight? When you look at others what do you see?

“Dwelling on your problems doesn’t fix them; it just makes you an expert at them.”
~ Tommy Newberry

* Need some extra encouragement this Thanksgiving? Be sure to check out Day 7 of this plan for a link to our fantastic printable, "Thankful Scriptures for Thanksgiving" and other resources for this plan!