Finding peace during the holidays

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to get bogged down with shopping lists, decorating and trip planning or event hosting. We often forget to take a moment and appreciate the beauty that comes with the season, and more importantly we forget to focus on what the holidays actually mean to us.

People celebrate for many reasons, but for me the Christmas season is about peace. I find peace in surrounding myself with family and friends, and I find peace in the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

But I’ll admit that I’m guilty of letting the stress of it all get to me, which is why I am so grateful that Franklin County provided me with two opportunities to refocus my thoughts.

Prior to living here, I had never heard of the Every Light a Prayer for Peace Ceremony, but now I have had the privilege of attending two: one in Red Bay and one in Russellville.

Both ceremonies were beautiful and provided two different experiences, but I have to confess that the one at Red Bay made me cry.

Red Bay held the ceremony in conjunction with the lighting of the Garden Club’s Memory Tree. The Memory Tree is full of names that have been submitted by citizens in honor of those they have lost. The holidays are a happy time, but it can be rough when you’ve lost someone; I know, because I lost a dear friend merely two months ago. Because of that, this ceremony held a special place in my heart and gave me the opportunity to reflect and appreciate all that I still have.

The Russellville choir and ensemble touched my heart with their renditions of “Mary Did You Know” and “Let There be Peace on Earth.” Despite the cold that seemed to reach into my bones, the ceremony allowed me to center myself and gain a sense of calm during the hectic holiday rush.

I want to thank Russellville and Red Bay for providing these opportunities to the community. I hope they touched the hearts of others like they touched mine.