For when the holidays are hard
I was watching a mini-series as I wrote Christmas cards for my copywriting clients. The episode opened with the main character proclaiming, “I don’t care what anyone says - this is the greatest time of the year. I love Christmas! I really, really do. And that’s because, in my family, Christmas is all about love.”
She then went into a spiel about love and romance, and then stopped abruptly when her regular Christmas merriment was essentially thrown out the window.
Despite how much I love the holidays (perhaps even more than this fictional character), even I feel the strain of obligations, busyness and unmet expectations as I get older.
Adulthood (well, at least adulthood in the modern world) seems to have this way of asking us to do more in the name of creating meaningful moments - when maybe those moments don’t require that much of us.
The character I mentioned earlier has this grumpy counterpart who labels Christmas as “the most detestable time of the year. The forced cheer, frenzied crowds, the feeling that you’re expected to be joyful even when you’re not ‘cause when you’re alone at Christmas it’s somehow worse than the rest of the year.”
Maybe you feel that way, too. Even when you’re surrounded by people, loneliness or grief or disappointment can still dominate the room. Parties, holidays and anything else that promote cheer can feel impossible when you feel anything but cheerful.
But, at least in most cases, perhaps we’re focusing on the wrong things - like the fictional characters in that show - and that is why the holidays feel so hard.
Christmas isn’t about doing all the things, but it is about celebrating the coming of a Savior who created all things.
Christmas isn’t about us, the pageants, the gifts or even homemade cookies (although I do thoroughly enjoy those). This holiday is about recognizing Jesus, whose birth meant victory over sin and death and all the things that make us feel grieved, lonely, sad and disappointed.
As it says in Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Often when I feel overwhelmed or stressed during Christmas time (or anytime of the year, really) it’s because I’ve lost sight of what is actually most important - glorifying the Lord and loving those around me.
So, draw near to the throne of grace this Christmas - draw near to the Lord. He sees and understands you right where you are.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed this time of year, ask God for guidance on how to recenter on him and experience peace and joy. Maybe this year you cut back on obligations and parties, or you host your own get-together at your place instead of going to three other parties. Or, maybe caring for yourself and your loved ones in this season looks like scheduling days or evenings spent at home to relax in the midst of the hustle and bustle.
Whatever it is you need to do to recenter on Christ and the true celebration of the holiday season, I encourage you to do just that with grace, truth and love. Happy Christmas, my friend! I hope it’s a merry one.
“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’”
Luke 2:8–14