Celine Dion, Kirstie Alley, Christmas, Good News and Bad


By Dr. Glenn Mollette

Award winning actress Kirstie Alley was diagnosed with cancer shortly before her untimely death at the young age of 71. Grammy award winning Celine Dion has recently been diagnosed with a neurological disease called Stiff Person Syndrome. The disease attacks about one in a million and is a very debilitating disease. She is 54 years old.

Disease, death and bad news can attack anyone at any age and none of us are immune.

Good news came to Britney Griner who spent 10 months in a Russian prison for allegedly having hashish oil in her suitcase at a Moscow airport. She was recently released and is now back in the United States. The Bad news is that arms dealer Victor Bout who smuggled millions of weapons to the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa was released from prison in exchange for Griner’s release.

Paul Whelan a former United States marine received bad news in that he is still being held in a Russian prison accused of spying. Russia is apparently holding onto him for another deal with the United States. It’s tragic that he wasn’t released with Griner.

Please stay out of Russia, North Korea, Iran and China. There are other places to avoid as well but there are plenty of nice places to visit.

My deceased wife was 37 when she received the bad news that she had multiple sclerosis. The diagnosis was very bad news and Karen died one day at a time for 12 years. The last four years of her life she could do nothing. She required 24-hour care. She became a person trapped inside a body. She died at the age of 49. The toll that such a disease took on our family and my young sons was severe. Such an illness changes the lives of the entire family. Everyone to some extent is involved in the caregiving and are changed by the emotional drain of sickness and death. However, no one suffers as much as the person struggling with the disease.

Such life struggles play havoc with holidays such as Christmas. Our family never had a normal Christmas for at least 12 years. However, it became our new normal.

Jesus is good news at Christmas. He was bad news to King Herod of Judea. Herod was a mental illness case who ordered the death of all male babies two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. He hoped to eliminate Jesus because wise men from the East had come to worship him.

We must pray for the families of Kirstie Alley, Celine Dion and Paul Whelan and many others. These families are suffering. Fame and fortune never provide a way of escaping bad news and the results of bad news. We should also pray for one another and rejoice with any good news that comes each other’s way.

We are all sojourners in this life. The message of Christmas is a Savior is born, Christ the Lord, peace on earth and good will toward all.

May good news find its way to you this season of the year and may we all with God’s grace be there for each other when the news is not so good.

Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books including UncommSense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

More Resources

How Santa Makes Out His Christmas List
How Does Santa Make Out His List?I'll let you in on a secret: I know Santa Claus. And I received a letter from him with his Christmas list.
Valentines Day
Ever wondered how February 14 became, the day on which we celebrate and explore love in all its many ideals, Valentines Day.There are many differing opinions on how Valentines Day started.
Spice Up Your Life with an Adventure Holiday!
Are you bored with the routine of city life? Do you yearn for a getaway from the hustle and bustle and put some excitement into your life? Do you hope to visit the places that have been aired over National Geographic Explorer and experience it for yourself? If your answer is yes to these questions, then adventure travel is just the thing for you!Defining an Adventure HolidayOk, so you've decided that you want an adventure holiday. This leads you to the next question - what type of adventure holiday do you want? There is just so much variety and different perceptions of the word "Adventure" that people have come up with all sorts of activities to define this word.
Youre How Old?!?
"Well, Happy Birthday! How old are you anyway?""Oh, I'm just 29 ? again."It's a harmless game, denying our age, right? We play sensitive about our age as we get older, as we get further away from birth and closer to death.
Marching Towards Mothers Day
"Mother: the most beautiful word on the lips of mankind." -Kahil GibranThis coming Sunday is our "big day," moms.
Choosing A Great Gift For A Polar Bear Lover
Do you know someone who is absolutely crazy about polar bears? Choosing a polar bear gift for a friend or loved one can be a lot of fun because there are so many choices out there, and luckily the price range is wide enough so that anyone can choose a great polar bear gift.Of course, sometimes having a lot of choices can be a problem, too.
Dear Santa: Christmas Sucks!
Christmas time is finally here, and most people during this holiday are happier than a fat kid eating a Krispy Kreme donut. Christmas brings so many great things to the table; the caroling, the NO SCHOOL, the snowmen and hour long snowball fights that ends with bloody noses, the eggnog and drunken relatives, the presents, holiday parties, and the drinking hot coco next to a roaring fire while cuddling up with your loved one.
The Origins Of Mothers Day
Today Mother's Day or Mothering Sunday is celebrated all over the world. For florists and card shops the event is one of the highlights of the year, but the roots of Mother's Day are not commercial.
7 Tips For Defusing Holiday Stress
KNOW THYSELFThe first key to creating a peaceful holiday season is identifying those holiday traditions that you ENJOY and those that you don't. When you spend your precious time and energy on activities that you don't find rewarding, you are destined to become FRUSTRATED and cranky.
5 Tips to Reduce Holiday Depression
While war and poor economic conditions begin to affect people all over the world, more and more people suffer with depression. The more we focus on news events and the business climate, the more we are depressed.
Ready to Skip This Holiday? Why No Just Make It Your Own?
Do you feel panicked, or exicted? Are you experiencing joy or depression? Do you have childlike visions of toys and celebration with the people you love? Or pressure, loneliness, alienation and annoying relatives?Sometimes we really can't help but ask "What is celebration? Do we really need it?"I can tell you there were times after my divorce and my daughter's death that I asked myself those questions. My kids had moved out.
Spend More Time With Your Family This Holiday Season: Host A Caroling Party
Too often we forgo entertaining because of the mere thought of all of the preparation that is involved. And more is not better.
Whatever Happened to Christmas?
Remember when no one started Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving?Wisconsin author LeAnn R. Ralph remembers it very well.
10 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a day for remembering those who have laid their lives in the nation's service. Memorial Day has also become a popular time for Family Reunions and Get Togethers as it is preceded by a weekend.
Thriving Through the Holidays
The holidays are upon us; a time of celebration and joy. I love the last days of November through the beginning of the New Year.
15 Ways to Create Some Extra Holiday Money
Originally this was going to be a list for my two teenagers but some of these ideas are better suited to adults with a valid driver's license and a bit of know-how. Some of these take a bit of planning and organizing, but most of them could be done on a fairly spur of the moment case by case basis.
Fun Halloween Ideas
Looking for interesting Halloween ideas? Perhaps you are looking for something new to do this year? Here are several Halloween ideas to get you started:Here's a neat tip to make your Halloween punch creepy while keeping it cold: Fill a rubber food service glove with water, and freeze it. Remove the glove, rinse the ice hand, and use it to cool your punch!Cotton candy makes great spider webs! Find candy spiders, and tangle them into the cotton candy.
Mothers Day, Do You Know What Youre Giving The Woman Who Gave You Life?
Mother's Day, Do you know what you're giving the woman who gave you life?by DeAnna SpencerI decided to deviate from my normal discussion of marketing andadvertising to discuss a major gift giving holiday.Mother's day is coming soon.
A Priceless Birthday Gift
Kelly was a very wealthy Hollywood actress, who was used to a posh lifestyle. She lived in a multimillion dollar home in Beverly Hills.
EASTER: The Bunny and The Egg
Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Everwonder why he brings eggs? And dyed ones at that!The Rabbit and the Hare, because of their frequentmultiple births, are long time symbols of fertility.According to pre-Christian fertility lore, long before Jesus Christ was born, the Easter Bunny, akathe Easter Hare, represented the new life duringthe Spring season.

More Holidays Information:

Related Articles

The Five Best Cigar-Related Fathers Day Gifts
According to a recent study by the internet cigar retailer WhatsKnotToLove.com, Father's Day -- that shameless day of the year when wives, daughters and sons have to publicly humiliate themselves in a quest for a gift they know will go unappreciated -- has become a national epidemic.
Valentines Day! The Sweet and Romantic Holiday
When I think of Valentines Day I think of Chocolates and Flowers. Others might think of a more romantic subject too.
Christmas Gifts For Dog Lovers
Let's admit it, the US and UK are both countries of dog lovers, and dog owners love to indulge their dogs like children. You only have to listen to a dog owner call out to their dog, playing in the park or field, to realise how devoted they can be.
Experience Mothers Day In A Whole New Way
Mother's Day is the day when sons, daughters and husbands buy gifts and flowers to recognize the incredible work mom has done raising the children. But some moms are unknowingly cheating themselves out of the full experience of Mother's Day.
Planning a Gift Closet
Creating a gift closet is a wonderful way to plan ahead for gift giving occasions. It's also handy for those last-minute emergency events that spring up throughout the year, may otherwise catch you by surprise, and send you on a mad dash to the store.
Decorating for a Victorian Christmas
Berry Manor Inn owner, Cheryl Michaelsen wouldn't admit it, but with all the research she's done on Victorian tradition for the inn many consider her an expert, especially when it comes to celebrating a Victorian Christmas. Her Victorian-style inn offers the ideal backdrop to showcase venerated Victorian traditions throughout the year.
Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating
You're tired. You've worked hard all week.
Unique Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season! Go Digital!
Instead of scouring the mall for gifts this holiday season why not consider using your cherished photos to create a unique personalized gift for family and friends?There are so many ways now, made easy with online sites and programs, to create unique personal gifts using your digital photos. Photo Books offer a way of creating a high quality photo album, book bound with text and artwork options.
Ten Ways To Make The Holidays Easier Next Year
What does your holiday season usually look like -- a lot of rushing around at the last minute? The holidays really don't have to require so much effort -- if you plan ahead and spread the work out throughout the year. Here are ten tips for making your next holiday season a snap:PACK YOUR DECORATIONS THE RIGHT WAYI know you will be in a rush to get the house back in order after the holidays are over -- but don't just throw everything in a box.
Valentines Day is NOT only for Lovers
Some people hate to see Valentines Day come around. Some have ended relationships and feel lonely while others have not yet met that someone special.
What Are You Doing This Halloween?
When it comes to Halloween there's no lack of variety in the things that you could do. From trick or treating (with the kids) to touring Haunted House attractions, finding something NOT to do would be more of a challenge.
Halloween Costumes...for Pets!
One of the best things about Halloween, is wearing a costume. If you have animals at home, why not consider a Halloween costume for pets? A Halloween costume for pets is usually made for an animal of the canine kind.
Patience
Ever since my girls were little, I've tried to teach them patience. I well remember getting them to count to ten when we had to wait for something.
Planning a Spectacular Christmas Party
The holiday season is typically filled with large fancy parties, small intimate gatherings, and extravagant dinner parties. Planning your own Christmas party can seem like you're competing with hundreds of other festive events during this time, but by adding special touches to every aspect of your party, its sure to be a success.
Gift Giving During Thanksgiving Adds That Special Touch
Many of us believe Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays, right? Actually, one of the most notable occasions is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is surprisingly a widely celebrated holiday that crosses over many nationalities and religions.
Alone for the Holidays?
Being alone is a challenge for many people. This challenge may loom especially large during the holidays if you are single or newly divorced and without family around you.
Choosing Childrens Birthday Party Supplies and Decorations
Birthday party supplies and decorations can bring that necessary magic to make your child's party special. Your child and their friends will more closely recall the event when it is accompanied by strong visual cues.
Single During the Holidays
Mistletoe. Holiday parties.
The Holiday Army
Here it comes again - the Holiday Army - in its annual march against us. Some of its generals are called "Thanksgiving," "Christmas," "Hanukah," "New Year's Eve" and "New Year's Day.
Magical Plants of Christmas
Most of the plants we associate with the holiday season are from Europe or the Mediterranean. We know the holly, ivy, mistletoe, christmas rose, rosemary, hawthorn, bay and of course, evergreens while the New World is represented in Christmas legend by the poinsettia.