Advent and Christmas: Less Crazy; More Meaningful
This is my December church newsletter article.
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes have trouble keeping my head together and my heart focused on God during Advent and Christmas. Mostly it’s because of all the noise and clutter and busy-ness. But it’s also because I often don’t take time to set my priorities before plunging into the season. Here’s a little list I developed a few years ago with some tips on making the season less crazy and more meaningful. Hope it’s helpful for you.
1. SLOW DOWN. When you find yourself anxious, harried, angry or frustrated because of the demands of the season, resolve to take 30 minutes THAT DAY to be kind to yourself. Take a bubble bath. Listen to music. Take a walk at Sharon Woods Metro Park. Drive around your neighborhood and look at Christmas decorations. Everything that’s got you uptight will still be there when you’re done, but you’ll have caught your breath and you’ll be ready to face them anew.
2. Consider giving alternative gifts to those who are on your list who might appreciate such things. A check in that person’s honor to Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project, International Child Care, the United Methodist Children’s Home, or any other worthy cause, will not only save you shopping time but also make a difference in the world.
3. Try adjusting your thinking a bit the way we often try to do during Lent. In fact, Advent originally began as a “little Lent” – a time of spiritual preparation in advance of an important day on the Christian calendar. Why not pick up a devotional book when you’re out shopping? Take a few minutes to pause, reflect and pray each day. Maybe that’s a habit you’ll carry into the New Year!
4. Help the children in your life understand why you are doing some of these things. It’s a sneaky way to tell them about the real “reason for the season.”
5. If some of the rituals you have observed for years during this season no longer hold meaning for you, then stop it! Start something new; or – just reduce the commitments on your calendar. Why keep doing things you don’t want to do when we all have too much to do during this time anyway?
6. Remember that it is O.K. if you do not feel abundant joy and happiness during the holidays. In fact, many persons find themselves depressed. There can be many reasons for this, but quite often it’s a sense of loss of some kind – either the loss of a loved on or the loss of some other important part of life. If you usually have a ‘Blue Christmas,’ that’s O.K. Find someone you trust that you can share your feelings with. And remember it’s O.K. to have moments of encouragement and celebration even in the midst of loss and grief.
7. If you tend to feel disorganized and rushed during this season, try sitting down for a few minutes and organizing your thoughts, your plans, your activities and your celebrations. Often just having a game plan during a busy time can reduce stress.
8. Repeat the following phrase to yourself as often as you feel it is necessary: “I was not created simply to buy more stuff. There is more to life than that.”
9. Be gentle with the children who are around you. When we grown ups are stressed out, the kids around us often are the ones who suffer.
10.Come to church! (I suppose I get paid to say that, don’t I?)
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes have trouble keeping my head together and my heart focused on God during Advent and Christmas. Mostly it’s because of all the noise and clutter and busy-ness. But it’s also because I often don’t take time to set my priorities before plunging into the season. Here’s a little list I developed a few years ago with some tips on making the season less crazy and more meaningful. Hope it’s helpful for you.
1. SLOW DOWN. When you find yourself anxious, harried, angry or frustrated because of the demands of the season, resolve to take 30 minutes THAT DAY to be kind to yourself. Take a bubble bath. Listen to music. Take a walk at Sharon Woods Metro Park. Drive around your neighborhood and look at Christmas decorations. Everything that’s got you uptight will still be there when you’re done, but you’ll have caught your breath and you’ll be ready to face them anew.
2. Consider giving alternative gifts to those who are on your list who might appreciate such things. A check in that person’s honor to Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project, International Child Care, the United Methodist Children’s Home, or any other worthy cause, will not only save you shopping time but also make a difference in the world.
3. Try adjusting your thinking a bit the way we often try to do during Lent. In fact, Advent originally began as a “little Lent” – a time of spiritual preparation in advance of an important day on the Christian calendar. Why not pick up a devotional book when you’re out shopping? Take a few minutes to pause, reflect and pray each day. Maybe that’s a habit you’ll carry into the New Year!
4. Help the children in your life understand why you are doing some of these things. It’s a sneaky way to tell them about the real “reason for the season.”
5. If some of the rituals you have observed for years during this season no longer hold meaning for you, then stop it! Start something new; or – just reduce the commitments on your calendar. Why keep doing things you don’t want to do when we all have too much to do during this time anyway?
6. Remember that it is O.K. if you do not feel abundant joy and happiness during the holidays. In fact, many persons find themselves depressed. There can be many reasons for this, but quite often it’s a sense of loss of some kind – either the loss of a loved on or the loss of some other important part of life. If you usually have a ‘Blue Christmas,’ that’s O.K. Find someone you trust that you can share your feelings with. And remember it’s O.K. to have moments of encouragement and celebration even in the midst of loss and grief.
7. If you tend to feel disorganized and rushed during this season, try sitting down for a few minutes and organizing your thoughts, your plans, your activities and your celebrations. Often just having a game plan during a busy time can reduce stress.
8. Repeat the following phrase to yourself as often as you feel it is necessary: “I was not created simply to buy more stuff. There is more to life than that.”
9. Be gentle with the children who are around you. When we grown ups are stressed out, the kids around us often are the ones who suffer.
10.Come to church! (I suppose I get paid to say that, don’t I?)
Comments
I'm sure you are paid to say to come to church, just like my parents are. I think you believe in it too though, so it evens out. Always for a just cause. The soul....