How to Have a Merry Christmas in a Messed Up World
Why is it becoming harder and harder each Christmas season to keep “the main thing, the main thing”?Every year, as Christmas approaches, we promise ourselves that we are not going to be stressed out, but then find ourselves secretly wishing for Christmas (and the holidays) to be over.A recent study showed that more than 50% of women are EXTREMELY stressed out during the holidays, while the majority of men see the holidays as a time off from work to relax! :)It is during the Christmas holiday season that we see friends and family that we haven’t seen in a year or more. We find ourselves in settings with a family that might be very broken, and it is during the holidays that the brokenness in our families become very apparent to us. Holidays are a very tough season for so many people because it shines a light on just how broken our families can be.I want to share a few thoughts with you that I have learned over the years, concerning the holidays and our families and a fresh perspective going into this Christmas season:(1) Allow your actions to speak before your words.The Bible tells us in James 1:19 that we are to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” Those words are never truer than during the holidays!Truth be told, you have probably said everything to your family concerning God and your faith that needs to be said, or at least during the holidays. There comes a time when your actions really do speak louder than your words.Christmas is a time to allow your actions to display the love and work of God in your life. Your lost family members don’t need to hear how they need to get back in church and turn their lives around. They need to SEE the love of God exemplified in your life and the power of His love of through your changed life!(2) Choose to talk about what unites you, not about what divides you.Christmas dinner is NOT the time or place to debate politics, religion or church preferences. Do not engage in conversations that you know are not going to end up well.You have a choice as to what conversations you engage in. When you do engage in those conversations, make a purposeful decision to speak about what brings people together, not about topics that will tear people apart.(3) Don’t have a judgmental attitude towards your family.Never forget where you came from and ALL that God has done in your life!
In I Cor. 15:10, the apostle Paul tells us: “But by the grace of God, I am what I am.”
Walk into those holiday parties, dinners, etc. full of the GRACE OF GOD remembering from where God has brought you and only by His grace are you the person you are now.Do not allow a judgmental attitude to rise up inside of you. Walk into those settings with a humble and grateful heart for all that God has done in your life, and through that humble heart, just perhaps your family will see God in you.(4) Choose to see all that’s right with your family, instead of everything that is wrong with them.Again, remember where you’ve come from and all that God has done for you.
It’s all a matter of perspective as to what we allow ourselves to look at: all that is RIGHT, or all that is WRONG. It is your choice.
And trust me, there is something RIGHT inside of every family, no matter how broken they are.(5) Represent Jesus well to your family.
If your family only judged God by how you acted and spoke, would they be more likely or less likely to turn their hearts over to Him?
You may be the only representation of Jesus that your family sees ~ make sure you represent Him well!(6) Jesus is the Savior of the world…you are not! Perhaps you need to come to the realization that you are not going to save your entire family over Christmas dinner.
God alone holds the power to change and transform the hearts of your family members, we do not. We cannot fix broken people, only God can do that.
Many times, we have more grace, love, understanding, and forgiveness towards our friends, and even strangers, than we do with our earthly families…and they are the ones who need God’s grace the most!Do not allow the drama, hurt and brokenness of your family situation to rob you of what the Christmas season is all about.Take a deep breath, refuse to allow the stress of the season to overtake you by making a commitment to God to make “the main thing, the main thing” this Christmas season, showing His love and grace to the family God has blessed you with.Determine in your heart to walk through this Christmas season focusing on the reason why we celebrate… full of love, grace, and gratitude… and ENJOY this Christmas season for the time of rejoicing it should be:
“Behold! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!” (Luke 2:10)
