How often do we hear people saying that the stress of the holiday season overpowers their joy at Christmas time? Why is this? Why do we as individuals take events intended for celebration, family gatherings, and vacations and turn them into another opportunity to go overboard? Because we've been taught to do too much. In every aspect of life, we're bombarded with the need to be efficient, to multi-task, and to execute everything to perfection. This has spilled over into our personal and worship times as well.
We feel the need to find the perfect gift for the relative that we're not even entirely sure we're related to. We spend hours, days, and weeks preparing for visitors, spending money on food and decorations. These things are not inherently bad. They're only bad when we let them take control of all of our time and thoughts, and let them replace our thoughts of being thankful for what this time of year. It is meant to be a celebration of the give of God's son, Jesus. Let's start treating it as such.
The spiritual discipline of "slowing" applies to all of us. I'm not suggesting that we be lazy, but it will not be a catastrophie if our relatives do not get ALL of the perfect gifts. It's okay if your living space doesn't look like a Martha Stewart Christmas special when the relatives come to visit. It's far more important that you're in a state of mind to be able to enjoy them. Ladies, take notes from your husband or boyfriend. He has mastered this philosophy.
Let's spend this December 25th glorifying the Christ-child and not glorifying "Christmas" alone.
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