A Little Christmas Advice

Before Halloween costumes have been placed in storage, retailers and manufacturers start pumping the airwaves with propaganda about the perfect toy, the perfect diamond ring to prove your love and the perfect food for the perfect, wonderful family celebration. Even before Thanksgiving our minds race with too many decisions: What to get for the person who has everything (probably almost everyone on your list), where to get the money for those perfect gifts. What to wear, or how to lose that extra pounds so you can get into last year's clothes!

Talk about STRESS! Someone has defined "anxiety" as the inability to cope with stress. Is anxiety the context in which we are living out a "holiday" that represents peace and stability to the Christian world? If so, take a deep breath and consider incorporating some of these ideas into your every day life, one day at a time.

Don't Miss Christmas!  We need to make sure that we set some time aside for each other. You may want to start with events such as Christmas eve services or activities where the entire family can be together. Share the Workload Be realistic about how much you can do in one day and plan for delays and unexpected interruptions (traffic jams, a sick child, a flat tire, a cashier who doesn't know what he is doing, long lines).

Ask your family members what they like about Christmas - what are "non-negotiable" traditions. You might be surprised to learn that what you think absolutely must be done, no one else really cares about! Make lists of every job - even the smallest - and prioritize tasks.

As Christmas grows closer remember the reasons for the season and be willing to cross off your list some of the unfinished tasks. Enlist your children. Tell them ahead of time what your expectations are and assign specific responsibilities appropriate for their age. Even little ones can fold napkins or help in some way! Let Go of Unrealistic Expectations.  Too often we allow the media to define the perfect Christmas. Such a perfect season is depicted as incomplete without softly falling snow, piles of packages, food beyond our ability to consume, and a table surrounded by happy, happy people. Jesus is absent from this picture of warmth and "love". Unrealistic expectations lead to major disappointments.

Change the things you can, accept the things you can't. Expect people to act as they always do! The presence of Jesus in our hearts equips us to reflect His love and compassion when others disappoint us. Spend extra time with Him when you know you will be around people who are difficult.

Ask Him to help you be a reflection of His peace. Intentionally Extend God's Compassion Ask God who He wants you to touch with His love. Perhaps this is the year to invite neighbors to a Christmas celebration.

We need to make the effort to reflect the peace of Jesus to a hostile world.

Take Time to Play It's not the pile of gifts that will create the satisfaction in a child - it's the relationship. Take a walk and breathe in the creation of God. Are you alone? Refuse to feel sorry for yourself.

Ask God to bring to mind someone else who is alone and invite them to join you for a meal. Perhaps the best way to experience joy is to give joy away. Ask God to show you a way to share His love with someone who needs a special touch from Him. Joy and ministry to others are linked.

Joy comes when we know we are serving our Savior by serving others. Take Time Out to Pray When Jesus got busy, He slowed down. He deliberately withdrew for a while (Mark 1:37-39).

Early on Christmas morning turn the lights on the tree and just spend some time in quiet prayer of peace and love. You may find this could be the best Christmas ever.