Geoff W. Sutton Blog

  Mispers is British slang for missing persons. People of any age can have memories of missing persons during the holidays when we’d expect them to be present. Of course, we know they died. And most of us, but sadly not all of us, know where their mortal remains are located.  We especially recall those who recently died or died close to Christmas. For example, we flew home to London England when my gran died one December or as an adult, I flew back to be with my mum when dad died just 5 days before Christmas. It doesn’t matter exactly when they died, the loss of people we loved enough that they live on in our memories can bring a smile, a tear, a longing, and many other feelings. So, for many at holiday gatherings, there will be unseen friends and family very much alive in memories.  Some people will see what others cannot see. Merry Christmas! Ad BUY ON AMAZON Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD  is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was ...

    JOY  & HAPPINESS       Joy to the World is a powerful anthem. Bells ring. Choirs sing. And people gather round trees, open presents, and gorge on meats and sweets. Joy seems to abound this time of year. Even news media seem keen on adding a dollop of good  news to their daily buffet of badness. Of course, the Christmas story is full of good news. Joy is an advent theme. In the Christmas story, Joy comes as a child. We know that joy. I recall the ultrasound picture of my first granddaughter. Marvelous. A happy moment for all. And of course you naturally want to celebrate by giving presents. So the joy spreads from inside to others. Especially the children who can barely wait to peak beneath the tree and ornament decorated swaddling paper wrapped lovingly around a precious gift. JOY has an effect. Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson has looked at the effects of positive emotions like joy and negative emotions like fe...

  Thomas New & Louisa (Clayton) New c 1940s, East Finchley, London Throughout my childhood, our English Christmases became more and more Americanised as the 10-day Atlantic Ocean voyage drifted into history. We always had a live naturally scented fir tree decorated with a few simple ornaments, which dad brought from those first Christmases before World War II. My mum baked a traditional English Christmas cake surrounded by a colourful band, covered with a snowscape of Royal icing with Father Christmas, reindeer, and miniature fir trees. Outside, the townsfolk of Vineland, New Jersey welcomed Father Christmas with red and green lights hung across the broad avenue. On Christmas Eve, we joined bundled church folk singing carols and collecting coins for the poor in honour of Tiny Tim. And at church on the Sunday before Christmas, we were sure to get a colourful two-layer box of filled chocolates. Dad always got my dark ones. Christmas Season 1950s Vineland NJ On that glorious mor...

Convoy of Hope helps after Greensburg KS tornado 2007 King : Come here, you beloved, you people whom My Father has blessed. Claim your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of creation. You shall be richly rewarded, for when I was hungry, you fed Me. And when I was thirsty, you gave Me something to drink. I was alone as a stranger, and you welcomed Me into your homes and into your lives. I was naked, and you gave Me clothes to wear; I was sick, and you tended to My needs; I was in prison, and you comforted Me. Even then the righteous will not have achieved perfect understanding and will not recall these things. Righteous : Master, when did we find You hungry and give You food? When did we find You thirsty and slake Your thirst? When did we find You a stranger and welcome You in, or find You naked and clothe You? When did we find You sick and nurse You to health? When did we visit You when You were in prison? King : I tell you this: whenever you saw a...

What's the Christmas Story about? Jesús Born Reports Lucas Back in the day, Cesar Augusto said everyone should have healthcare. The deadline to sign up was 24 December. This happened when politicians did not get along. And everyone went online to register for healthcare. José and María, his pregnant fiancé who needed healthcare, could not even afford internet service. Anyway they bundled up and began their taxing trip into town to use cousin David’s line. David was out. Exhausted, they decided to stay at the Holly Day Inn, where they could get online. “Sorry guys, we’re full,” said Clark. José noticed a sign on an office door and asked if they could use that room. The kindhearted Clark nodded his head. Then María exclaimed, “omg, I’m like having a baby.” So Clark called 911. And María gave birth. She wrapped him in Holly Day Inn towels and put him on the floor of the Manager’s office. Exhausted but joyful, María and José tweeted the good news. Angela retweeted it...

Hope  Peace  Love  Joy I wish you a Merry Christmas