“All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors—in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver.”

— Fred Rogers

“When we feel overwhelmed by the darkness in the world—the violence, injustice, poverty, oppression, abuse—give us hope not to be overcome.”

— Rev. Sandra Maria Van Opstal

“There is a light that shines in the darkness, which is only visible there.”

― Barbara Brown Taylor, Learning to Walk in the Dark

“You are light, you are principle

When you love, invincible

Our shared light, indivisible

When we love, we're invincible”

Invincible —Eddie Vedder

“I do not understand the mystery of grace—only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us”

— Anne Lamott

“If Light Is In Your Heart

You Will Find Your Way Home.”

― Rumi

“You know what the happiest animal in the world is? It's a goldfish. It's got a 10 second memory.”

— Ted Lasso

“One tiny idea at a time, one small heart at a time, through and for God, I choose light.”

— Laura Strong

“If you knew the secret of life, you too would choose no other companion but love.”

— Rumi

“Courage is like—it’s a habitus, a habit, a virtue: You get it by courageous acts. It’s like you learn to swim by swimming. You learn courage by couraging.”

– Brene Brown

“If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough.”

– Oprah Winfrey

“It’s the things we play with and the people who help us play that make a great difference in our lives.”

– Fred Rogers

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do keep moving forward.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul—and sings the tunes without the words—and never stops at all.”

– Emily Dickinson

“Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet, always ready for whatever our Lord may wish to work in you.”

– Ignatius of Loyola

As this tender year comes to a close, we pray you know the truth of your belovedness and the warmth of love that surrounds you. Merry Christmas from your friends at Charis Collective!

‘“What day is it?” asked Pooh. 

‘It’s today,’ squeaked Piglet.

‘My favorite day,’ said Pooh.” 

― A.A. Milne

“I have a lot of people in my life, and I think there's something key: the thing that leads to intimacy and relationship and connection is tenderness.”

— Father Greg Boyle

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

— Antoine De Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

“Look at everything as though you are seeing it either for the first or last time, then your time on earth will be filled with glory.”

― Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn