“Christmas is coming . . . and I can’t get out of its way!”
The words of the comic strip made me groan and smile at the same time, because that’s exactly how I felt.
I had so much to do: so much to buy, so much to make, so much to wrap, so much to bake, so much to decorate, so many cards to write . . .
There were so many expectations.
And there was so much fear that if I didn’t do all of it, and do it well, people would think less of me.
If I had asked Jesus what he thought about all I had to do (you know—to get ready to celebrate his birthday), he might have reminded me of this verse:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)
But I didn’t ask him (though I did repeatedly, and desperately, ask him to help me get everything done!) and so I struggled for years with Christmas anxiety—each year enjoying the holiday a bit less.
The year I realized the sound of Christmas carols was making me feel emotionally upset and physically ill, I knew something had to change.
I finally asked God to show me how to make Christmas better: to honor him, to provide a beautiful celebration for my family and myself, and to do it peacefully.
Why hadn’t I thought to do this sooner?
All those years I’d been planning a birthday party, but never thinking to ask the guest of honor what kind of celebration he wanted. (As it turns out, Jesus’s tastes are pretty simple, and he doesn’t even mind that the other guests are the ones who get the gifts!)
He helped me realize that all those items on my holiday to-do list were OPTIONAL, and he gently showed me that by choosing to do them, I was not only stretching myself and my budget way too thin, I was setting my children up to do the same when they became adults. (Ouch!)
It became clear that I needed to refocus . . . to remember what I was meant to be celebrating . . . to remember WHO I was meant to be honoring . . . and to remember that stress and debt and frayed nerves are never his plan for me.
And so I began the process of simplifying Christmas. It didn’t happen all at once. Learning to say “no” to things I’d always said “yes” to was not easy. I’m actually still working on it—making a bit more progress every year.
These are some things I’ve learned: advice I wish someone had given me way back when . . .
And the flip side of that . . .
And finally, if the idea of giving less and doing less this Christmas makes you worry that you’ll seem like a grinch, take a few minutes to Google the words SIMPLIFY CHRISTMAS. You’ll see that this is a movement that is gaining popularity because it actually enhances the holiday and makes people happier. You’ll find so many great ideas—especially about scaling back gift-giving and teaching children the importance of balance and gratitude.
Christmas is coming . . . May you enjoy every minute of it!
Photo by Freestocks.org via Unsplash
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.
The Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply.
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website and blog is for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to inspire, educate, offer hope and in some instances challenge attitudes and beliefs promoted in our society. We also provide information about Voice and Vision’s services and connections to basic resources in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The information is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, counseling, or treatment or cannot be used for identification of a diagnosis. Please seek help from a qualified physician or professional with any questions you may have regarding a physical, emotional or mental health condition, disability, or addiction.
Please note: The views and opinions expressed by the authors on the blogs are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Voice and Vision, Inc. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.
© 2023 Voice & Vision, Inc. | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Statement | XML Sitemap
1-800-734-5665 | mailbox@voiceandvisioninc.org