Coming Untangled…One Day at a Time
Last year I decided that I was not going to miss the sparkle in the season. I was going to get out of the crazy spin of Christmas, turn the wheel around and find meaning in the last month of the year. It would be a time of reflecting, gratitude, soul-searching, and blessing others. I made a decision to breathe in the essence of the season and skip the build up of making it just a one day event. And, in doing so, I did experience a wonderful season, a spiritually breath-taking Christmas, and I didn’t miss the sparkle—not in my loved ones, not in my friends, not in the crackling of fires, the singing of carols, or the taking of communion on Christmas Eve. Yes, last year I experienced an untangled Christmas, and it was beautiful.
How do I plan to spend this December? By reminding myself not to get tangled in the self-inflicted expectations that I can so easily get caught up in—and by not allowing others expectations, or the allure of holiday marketing, media, and daily advertisements to rule my December days. Instead I plan on breathing in the beauty of Christmas, the real Christmas—The spirit of Christmas—which is the spirit of Christ in my midst.
I am going to remind myself of the two most important charges of the Christian life—to love God with all of me, and to love others. With these two things in mind, I will go into December less tangled. I will make plans that reflect those two goals. I will purchase gifts based on those two goals. And, I will begin each day with the prayer of living in those two goals. Will you join me?
Five Steps to Untangling Christmas
1. Lose the event/party mentality
Christmas is more than a beautiful Christmas buffet or single event—it is a season that announces hope in a Savior. This hope is available for us 24/7, 365 days a year.
So the first step is seeing Christmas as a celebration of hope, and not an event. In everything from gift giving to decorating, seek to remember the hope that is found in Christ.
2. Let go of holiday perfection
Christmas is not about everything being perfect. Focus on the bigger picture, rather than obsessing over the small details that go wrong. Your worth as a woman is not determined by what you do. You don’t have to have the perfect holiday dinner, table setting, or just the right gifts to make the holiday meaningful. Perfection is a trap—don’t get stuck there this Christmas.
3. Stop trying to make everyone happy
Making others happy through the perfect gift or holiday experience is not your responsibility. Trying to keep up with the Joneses can cause a lot of stress. Your worth as a parent, spouse, relative or friend is not in the value of the gift. Do your best, and then relax. Your responsibility is to love others, not make their holiday magic.
4. Change your attitude by changing your focus
Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ—Emmanuel—the God who is with us. The hope that God is present with us each season, each month and each day of the year is cause for gratitude. Christmas is the celebration of the word “possible”—for with God nothing is impossible! Take focus-breaks each day. Reflect on the reason of the season, sit with the Christmas story in the New Testament book of Luke or read from a daily devotional each day of December. Buy a new journal and keep a December praise/ gratitude journal—recording the sparkle of each day.
5. Accept others as they are
Holidays can be stressful because we are often with people that are difficult to be around. You don’t have to approve or like what your family members do, but you do need to give them the gift of love and grace. Make this a month of practicing God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness. Dr. Minirth, a noted Christian psychiatrist, warns that this is also not the time to try and fix your family. There are other times in the year to address problems.
May I suggest that you love others as an act of your faith in God, and as obedience to Him. The greatest gift we have received is the unconditional love of God for us. The greatest gift you can give is to extend this love towards others.
Be Merry! Choose Joy! Be Filled!
Christmas Prayer
Lord I thank you for Isaiah 9:6. Thank
you for sending a son to be my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. I want to sit with those truths about Jesus many times today.
