Do you remember last year when I introduced my book, I Need The Light! 26 Weekly Devotionals to Help You Through Winter? It’s mid-September and time to remind people who live in the northern hemisphere to reconsider that book. Although it is still much warmer than normal here in North Carolina in mid-September, I don’t want fall and winter to sneak up on you.
by Janet Morrison
I wrote the book from my own experience. I don’t just dislike cold weather, I dread autumn and winter. That’s half the year! What a waste of my time and energy! It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I thought it only affected people in the cold, but I have read that some people experience this in the spring and summer.
When I was given my diagnosis, the physician’s assistant urged me to get out in the bright sunshine every morning. Since I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, that simple-sounding recommendation continues to be a challenge for me. When you don’t sleep well (or at all) at night, and you wake up every morning feeling worse than you did when you went to bed – even if you got a few hours of sleep — early mornings are not an enjoyable time of the day.
It was one morning as I walked that I kept repeating to myself, “I need the light. I need the light. I need the light.” It was perhaps the fifth time I said those words that I realized that the short sentence had a double meaning.
I need light to help me cope with SAD, but I need The Light – Jesus Christ – to help me cope with all facets of my life. That is why “The” is capitalized in the book’s title.
Each weekly devotional looks at a different passage in the Bible that references light or The Light. I quote five versions of the Bible in each devotional and I draw on several other books and Bible commentaries in my comments about each passage. Each week includes a suggested activity and a recipe for a comfort food.
People have commented that they like the conversational style in which the devotionals are written. That pleases me because that’s the comfortable and familiar manner in which I hoped to share my thoughts.
I Need The Light! 26 Weekly Devotionals to Help You Through Winter is available in paperback at Second Look Books in Harrisburg, NC. It is also available from Amazon in paperback athttps://www.amazon.com/Light-Weekly-Devotionals-Through-Winter/dp/B0FMNCDFBT/ and e-book at https://www.amazon.com/Light-Weekly-Devotionals-Through-Winter-ebook/dp/B0FN9S27YW/.
I Need The Light! Companion Journal and Diary is available only in paperback at Second Look Books and from Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Need-Light-Companion-Journal-Diary/dp/B0FRKRM9KJ/.
These are books that you can read again every year and get something new out of them. I hope you or someone you know who does not thrive in cold weather will find these books helpful.
Janet
Thank you for sharing this new book. I really appreciate it. Since I also experience SAD, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain, I understand how winter’s cold can affect us all. I truly admire how you realized the importance of seeking the Light of Christ during these times. That’s a truly beautiful insight.
—Shirley
Sharing to help spread the word!
Thank you very much, Shirley. I wish you well in the coming months as cooler weather is surely coming — although it’s still in the 90s here in North Carolina. I don’t mind if fall comes a bit late!
Thank you so very much, Liz! I appreciate any publicity my books can get!
You’re welcome, Janet!
Hi Janet. Do I ever hear you on literally needing the light. I thrive in sunshine and hibernate in darkness. I don’t get enough sun through my exposure where I live so I have changed all my lamp bulbs to ‘daylight white’ bulbs a few years ago and I find it really helps. 😋
Hi Debby. Thanks for the tip. It’s been a little crazy here. I had an allergic reaction to some insect bites on Friday. I never even saw what got me! Sore throat on Sunday turned into bronchitis. I have coughed my lungs out. Saw doctor on Tuesday. The meds are helping, but I have not accomplished anything this week. If it’s not one thing, it’s another… or two or three others. Plus, our weather went berserk. It was 92 degrees on Sunday and didn’t get out of the 60s yesterday. I’m probably not the only person around here that’s gotten sick. Forgive me for whining, but that’s all I have to report for my last six days. Had planned to go to the history room at the library in a neighboring county on Tuesday to do some last minute research for my novel. Well, that didn’t happen. I’ve been trying to get up there for weeks. I hope you’re having a productive week — or at least a pleasant one.
Wow, that’s a lot Janet. I hope this coming week will be easier for you. It’s been a week for sure for me too! 😋
I’m sorry you’re having a hard time, too, Debby. I hope you have relaxation time this weekend.