• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Prayer Wine Chocolate

a spiritual journey to motherhood & beyond

  • Home
  • Wine and Chocolate
  • Faith
  • CSMI
  • Adoption
  • Life
  • Prayer Journaling
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • Be Yourself!: A Journal for Catholic Girls
  • Donate a Be Yourself Journal
  • Catholic Coloring Pages
  • Shop

Dec 24, 2019
Faith· Resources

5 Ways to Battle the Blues this Christmas

This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I remember vividly being alone and depressed on more than one Christmas.

5 ways to battle the blues this Christmas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . for some people.

For other people. It can suck.

I experienced deep grief in the years that I thought I had the chance to get married and blew it. No boyfriend and certainly no husband – made me very alone in my world during a season or two.

I lived by myself for at least one of these holiday seasons. That made things worse.

But as I look back from where I am now, I can see what I did to cope that was helpful and somewhat comforting.

Whether you are depressed because of

loneliness;

suffering the loss of a loved one,

longing to be a mother, father or spouse,

wrestling with past decisions

or because of some other reason – I want to share what worked with you. I also want to share what I wish I knew.

Before I share what helped me- I want to assure you – things do change. Take a breath and allow yourself to BELIEVE that this Christmas is an opportunity to cling to the hope that one day you will experience that “thrill of hope” once again.

You will experience a thrill of hope – and you will recognize it because of this weariness.

1. Write a letter to Dear Ole’ Saint Nick

Most of us as children, would ask Santa Clause for things we desired around Christmas time. As Catholics, we believe in the power of intercessory prayer. We often pray to Saint Anthony when we lose things, Saint Jude when something feels impossible and Our Lady for various petitions.

And Jesus tells us to have the faith of a child.

I remember during those rough years, picking up a pen and writing a letter – and instead of starting Dear Santa Clause, I started

Dear St. Nick (or Saint Nicholas).

I especially remember doing this when I longed to be a mother. Since Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children – this made extra sense to me.

Perhaps I should back up a bit.

One thing I did when I depressed that helped me throughout the year was I started a prayer journal.

(https://www.prayerwinechocolate.com/why-prayer–journal/

One of the things I vividly remember having in my prayer journal was a Saint Philomena prayer card. I glued her picture to a page after I copied the novena prayer on the back. Saint Philomena is also the patron saint of impossible causes. I wrote to her and said a novena to her with the intention of healing a broken heart.

So writing to a Saint in my prayer journal was not unusual.

Writing to Saint Nick and asking him to pray for the intentions my heart longed for brought me back to a child like faith.

Santa didn’t always bring what I asked for – but sometimes, he did.

Sometimes, it took asking a few years (cough, cough Cabbage Patch kid).

2. Envision and Write out what you long for

When I was depressed and broken hearted – for what felt like an eternity – over not having a significant other, I hit rock bottom more than once.

One of those times I bought a book titled “How to Make Someone Fall in Love with You”.

Hey, I’m not proud of it.

But one thing that book suggested doing was to write out your idea of the perfect mate/spouse, etc. It gave questions that allowed the reader to really think about who I wanted to meet, fall in love with, and marry.

It asked about physical appearance, political views, age, outlooks and faith preferences.

And I did it. I totally answered all those questions.

I wanted a man with a great head of hair. I wanted him to be tall. I wanted him to be hard working and Catholic.

Eventually, I met that man I thought I made up in my imgination. He is now my husband.

I did this in a way of talking to God about what my hopes and dreams were. I did this as a way of sharing with God my hurts and what I thought would heal them.

I gave Him my desires that way.

So years later, when I longed to be a mother – I tried this exercise again.

I recently found the notebook/prayer journal I wrote this in.

I described my children.

It was in April of 2012 where I picked up a pen and wrote about the children I envisioned being a mother of . . .

I wrote about and described 3 children.

In June of 2012, I met our oldest son. In April of 2017, I met our second son and our daughter.

Now, when I wrote about three children, I described two girls and a boy.

So no, what I wrote down didn’t come completely true – but still.

I am a woman that could never get pregnant and I am the mother of not one, not two, but three children.

I love this activity because it encourages us to hope and dream when we often are in the depths of despair.

3. Call on a friend

I don’t remember what time of year it was, but I recall one night when I called my friend Kelly. I must have sounded like I was about to jump off my roof. I called her because I wanted someone to talk to. Someone who knew why I was upset.

I just needed someone to talk to.

Kelly did the unexpected. She said, “I’m coming over”.

She paid me a visit. She brought a bottle of wine and her kind heart.

She listened to me and just sat with me.

I totally wasn’t expecting that. But to this day, I am so grateful for it.

Kelly was one of the three friends I had at the time that started getting together to pray the Rosary. We would often take so long to discuss our intentions that we wouldn’t actually get to the Rosary. Talking about our hurts out loud, and praying together was a beautiful gift.

I’m so grateful they were willing to do that with me. They had their pains too and it was a comfort to all of us.

4. Find a Healthy Escape

There used to be a program in Philadelphia called “Operation Santa Clause”. On Christmas Eve, high school students would dress up like Santa and elves and deliver wrapped presents to the homes of families in need. It was an awesome experience I had in high school. When I was single, I volunteered to be a driver for that program. So during the day and into the evening on Christmas Eve I was busy. Busy doing something pretty amazing.

That felt good.

So, think back to a service experience you once did that was fulfiling and do it again. Or think about a service you have always considered doing and do it.

Watch a comedian or a comedy. Kathleen Madigan is hilarious. And if your depressed about being alone or longing to be a mom – she’s neither married or a mom so her perspective is so funny and you don’t feel like, “yeah but she doesn’t get it.”

https://amzn.to/2PQ6ZfZ

Get lost in a tv series.

Work. Create. Do something that will really distract you- in a healthy way.

5. Stop “shoulding” all over yourself

Stop blaming yourself for your present situation.

Stop thinking about the past and saying, “I should have done this. I shouldn’t have done that”.

If you sinned, go to Confession. Confess it. Accept God’s forgiveness and believe this:

God takes our stupidity and weaknesses in account when He plans . . .

I eventually stopped beating myself up.

What I did for way to long that did not help was blame myself for my heartache.

“God gave you “so and so” and you totally screwed it up.

“God did answer your prayers and you were not grateful for His blessings.”

Thoughts like these spent A LOT of time in my head.

Other thoughts like, “you SHOULD have done this differently; you SHOULD have been more grateful” and so on also lingered in my thoughts.

I thought that God gave me what I asked for and I totally screwed up His plan. It was my fault. It wasn’t that God didn’t hear me. It was that I didn’t appreciate Him or do His will.

What I discovered later was a quote from Scripture that says:

Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Now here’s a huge disclaimer – I have no degree in Theology. I don’t know what Jesus was trying to tell the people in this story.

But what I believed He was telling me when I finally read it was this:

You are creating your own hell.

You keep looking back at what you did and that is why you are miserable. Nothing is impossible with God!

Nothing you could do could make the Lord not be able to heal your heart! If you are asking God to give you joy, love, and hope again – don’t think He can not or does not desire to do so! Nothing you could do could make God love you less! God’s love is more abundant than what you can ever imagine or dream of! His plans for you are to prosper! Ask, seek, knock and believe He hears your prayers.

Stop looking back at what you did and look forward with hope.

Think about what He can do.

For Nothing is Impossible with God.

May the Lord bless you abundantly.

Merry Christmas,

Amy

Share676
Tweet
Pin5
Share
681 Shares
Previous Post: « Spiritual Stocking Stuffers Gift Guide and Giveaway 2019
Next Post: What Luke Skywalker and Saint Joseph Can Teach Us About Adoption »

Primary Sidebar

       

Amy is the Co-Founder of CatholicsOnline.net

10 Free resources

10 Free resources

10 free resources for subscribers!

10 free resources for subscribers!

GUIDE: How to Plan your Own Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat

Be Yourself! Journal

Journal for tweens and teens

prayerwinechocolate

Easter is the perfect time to encourage prayer wit Easter is the perfect time to encourage prayer with a gift!
These gifts and more available in my little shop!

#Catholicshop #Catholickids #Catholicwife #CatholicChristian #CatholicEaster
Easter gift ideas for Catholic boys… #Catholicbo Easter gift ideas for Catholic boys…
#Catholicboymom #Catholicmom #Catholic #Catholics #Confirmationgift #CatholicChristian #catholicmemes #catholicreels
Be Yourself Journal on sale for $17.00… today on Be Yourself Journal on sale for $17.00… today only!!!
“Be who you are and be that well. So that you may bring honor to the Master Craftsman whose handiwork you are.”
~Saint Francis DeSales 

#Catholicbooks #CatholicSaints #CatholicMom #Catholicgifts #boystomen #Catholickid #Catholictween ##Catholickids #saintquotes
Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… 

This type of advice can be really helpful for all of us… especially for a young girl navigating middle school or her early teens.

This advice would have helped me.
Why?

Because it takes some pressure off the high expectations often felt by us as individuals.

It makes God’s will for us feel achievable and realistic.

It’s totally relevant to a student in junior high
(And a slightly stressed out adult)

This page in the Be Yourself embraces scrapbooking fun- just like the back cover. Only this page encourages photographs. Yes, actual printed ones 🎞️📸

Take a deep breath.
Love the next person that comes near you.
#Catholicmom #Catholicsaints #middleschool #juniorhigh #Catholicquotes #inspirationalquotes
A prayer and the story behind the picture… Oh S A prayer and the story behind the picture…

Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, 

I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, our Lord; 

so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. 

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me, and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. 

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us.
Amen.

My children had off from school on Friday. I had committed to an hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from to 2 to 3 during Lent… so since they had off, they had to come with me.
It was stressful.
They CAN NOT sit still.
Once I got one to stop walking around or talking, another one started.
But in the middle of all this… I witnessed a sweet moment.
I hesitated to pull out my phone because I really try not to during Adoration.
But, the beauty of the moment struck me, and I had to capture it.
📸 
Motherhood is hard. Parenting is difficult.
But I’m often reminded it’s like farming… and I’m planting seeds.

I just hope and pray I’m planting more good seeds then bad ones.

Thank goodness we can pray and ask for prayers from others!

Saint Joseph, pray for us!
#Catholic #Catholicmom #mustardseedfaith #catholicteacher #CatholicChristian #CatholicSaint #CatholicSaints #catholicparenting #liturgicalliving
THANK YOU! Thank you! Thank you! If you have left THANK YOU! Thank you!
Thank you!

If you have left a review on Amazon for either of the Be Yourself Journals… thank you from the bottom of my heart!

When you leave a review on Amazon it makes me SO HAPPY… plus it sends a signal to Amazon to show more people these books!
I’d love for more girls to get this book in their Easter Basket this year!

I’m so grateful this book is being used and appreciated!

God is good!

If you like this book and haven’t left a review, please write one! It’s okay if you didn’t buy it from there!

Tag someone with a 10 or 11 year old girl!

#Catholic #Catholicmom #liturgicalliving #litany #Wwp #CatholocChristian #CatholicEaster #CatholicEasterbasket #ComeHolySpirit #trueidentity
I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 videos on YouTube!

And last week’s interview with Dr. Matthew Breuninger (@askacatholictherapist ) still has me thinking about the “psychology of prayer journaling “!

The last 4 videos posted consist of two new interviews (Jessica Castillo from @athrivingcatholic and Dr. John Spitzer @johnspitzermd ); 

a box opening of @pinksaltriot ‘s latest JOY BOX and finally 

a “how to” video that demonstrates how girls can design the back cover of Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Girls!
Whew!

Dr. John Spitzer shared parenting advice for moms and dads of tweens;

Jessica Castillo shared how our physical and spiritual health are connected;

The Joy Box had some fun surprises… one will be going in my daughter’s Easter Basket;
And my friend’s daughter was the perfect co-host in the “how to design “ video!

Tell me which topic interests you the most… maybe I’ll dedicate an Instagram post highlighting that content!

#Catholic #BeYourselfJournal #CatholicYouTube #Catholicyouth #CatholicsOnline #catholicsofinstagram #Catholicblog #Catholicauthor #Catholicblogger #catholicinspiration #Catholictalk #joybox
FLASH SALE ON BOY’S Journal ends tonight!!! Link FLASH SALE ON BOY’S Journal ends tonight!!!
Link in bio!
#Catholic #Lent #bhlent2023
“I got this for my 10 yr old daughter’s Easter “I got this for my 10 yr old daughter’s Easter basket. She immediately was attracted to it. Later, she came to me and said that it was her favorite item in her basket. She loves it and really has spent time with it. It is motivational, inspirational, engaging and most importantly, designed to encourage a habit of prayer and meditation at a young age. All while focusing on God’s love for us and our uniqueness…”
Review left on Amazon about Be Yourself:a Journal for Catholic Girls
#Catholic #RomanCatholic #BeYourselfJournal #BeYourself #Catholicmom #Catholicgift #Christianyouth #Catholicyouth #journal #prayerjournal #catholiccrafts #Catholics #Tweengirls #tweengirl #Youthministry #bookstagram #Catholicfamily #catholicphotography #Catholicprayers #catholicreels
FLASH SALE!!!! Boy’s journal sale ends MONDAY!!! FLASH SALE!!!!
Boy’s journal sale ends MONDAY!!!
Finish up Lent strong… and add this fun book to an Easter Basket!
Link in bio!
#Catholickids #Catholicmom #Catholicyouth #CatholicChristian #Catholic #catholicyouthministry #Catholicdad #Catholicgift #Eastergift #Easterbook #Easter #easterbasket #Lent
I adore you Jesus, true God, and true man, pres I  adore you Jesus, 
true God, and true man, 
present in the Holy Eucharist, 
kneeling before you 
and united in spirit 
with all the faithful on earth 
and all the saints in heaven. 

In gratitude for so great a blessing, 
I love you with all my heart, 
for you are worthy of all praise 
and adoration. 

Lord Jesus Christ, may I never offend you with my lack of love. 

May your Eucharistic presence refresh me in body and soul. 

Mary, Mother of the Eucharistic Lord, pray for me 
and obtain for me a greater love for Jesus. Amen.

#EucharisticAdoration #Lent #EucharisticRevival #BlessedSacrament #40hours #prayforvocations #Catholicmom #Catholicsonline #manyhailmarysatatime #catholicsofinstagram #Holyhour
Seriously, if all the @catholicsonline shops had a Seriously, if all the @catholicsonline shops had a mall I’d… I don’t even know… it would be AMAZING!!!
#RomanCatholic #Catholicgifts #Catholicmom #Catholicwoman #Catholicwife #Christiangifts #SaintJude #CatholicSaints #Catholicshop #Eastergift #Eastergifts #Catholicsonline #Catholicreels #catholicsofinstagram #prolife
Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… thes Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… these numbers are NOT in my favor?

Years ago, I was lonely, depressed and wondering if I would ever not be lonely and depressed.

I dreamed of falling in love and getting married.

But, I wanted to marry a faithful Catholic man… and I believe I saw that only 22% (?) of Americans were Catholic.

And then I thought…
Half of them aren’t men, a large percentage are not practicing and … also how many are BOOMERS?

Lucky for me, God math goes like this…
5 loaves 
2 fish
=
5,000 meals and leftovers 

This is my handsome husband and our awesome nephew with the Bishop that Confirmed him on Friday.
Matt was -and is- such a proud Sponsor and Uncle!
God bless Grayson Patrick FRANCIS!

Thank you God for all of your gifts!!!
“You pay God a compliment when you ask big things of Him.” ~ Saint Teresa of Avila

#Catholic #confirmationsponsor #CatholicSacraments #EucharisticRevival #EucharisticAdoration #ComeHolySpirit #Saintquotes #CatholicSaints
Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a retreat and you see joyful faces! 

Listen, this is the best retreat hack for Catholic girls!
****The Be Yourself Journal Scrapbooking activity.****

Give each girl a Be Yourself Journal.
Explain how, “We are all called to holiness but we take different paths.” ~ Saint Katharine Drexel.

Have each girl pick out a Holy card and two Catholic stickers.

Put scrapbooking paper and Catholic washi-tape (thank you @thestumpofjesse ) on the tables and get them started with decorating the back of their journals.

As they work add more stickers and quote cards to their table.

Point out that they were all given the same set of instructions… yet each cover design is unique.

The same is true for their calling!
God has a unique mission for each individual.

He calls us to follow the Commandments, embrace His Word and trust the teachings of the Church…
same set of basic instructions, different yet BEAUTIFUL results when followed!
“Be who God meant you to be and you’ll set the world on fire!” ~Saint Catherine of Siena
Huge thank you to the women who donated journals and holy cards!!!
#holycards #Catholickids #Saintquotes #BeYourselfJournal #Catholic #Catholicstickers #Catholiccrafts #Saintquotes #Catholicyouth #Catholicyouthgroup #Catholicretreat #Confirmationretreat #Catholicretreat #catholicteacher
Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? 

Holy cards can be a fantastic prayer journal prompt. 

Copy the prayer off the back and glue the card to the page ;next to, underneath or above where you wrote the prayer).

Follow me for more prayer journaling tips!
#Catholicjournal #biblejournal #Prayerjournal #prayerjournaling #bissisterhood #Catholicsonline #Jesusandcoffee #Lentideas
Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this week Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this weekend!

So excited to help these young Catholics see that each is called to holiness… but each mission is unique and unrepeatable!

Huge thank you to the women who donated journals for the retreat (11 donated!!!) and the women from my Bible study group who donated Holy cards!

If you would like to donate a Journal for one of the girls attending the retreat this weekend… send me a private message and I’ll explain how!

Holy cards are GREAT prayer journal prompts!

Which Holy card would you put in your prayer journal?
#prayerjournal #Catholicsaint #Confirmationretreat #Catholicretreat #catholicprayer
Keep at it!!! Don’t give up and Don’t give in! Keep at it!!! Don’t give up and Don’t give in!!! “The world offers you comfort… but you were not made for comfort, you were made for GREATNESS!”
Pope Benedict XVI
#Catholic #Saintquotes #prayfastgive #Lent #Catholicreels #Catholicmeme #Catholicmemes #catholicsofinstagram #Catholicmom #faithandfamily
New post up on the blog!! I found some awesome Hol New post up on the blog!!
I found some awesome Holy Spirit themed gift ideas!
Link in bio!
#catholicgiftguide #ComeHolySpirit #Catholicmom #religiouseducation #Catholicgifts #shopCatholic #catholicsonline
Holy Spirit activate!!! New gift guide up!!! One m Holy Spirit activate!!!
New gift guide up!!!
One might say … these gifts are on FIRE!!!!
Check it out… link in bio!!!
#holyspiritactivate #Catholicgifts #Catholic #confirmationgift #Catholic #youthministry #Catholicyouth #Catholicteen
Need Lent? #Catholicreels #Catholics #CatholicChri Need Lent?
#Catholicreels #Catholics #CatholicChristian #Catholicmeme #Catholicmemes #liturgicalliving
Load More Follow on Instagram

Footer

       
a spiritual journey to motherhood & beyond

Copyright © 2023 · Cultivate Theme theme by Restored 316