We did a tiny bit of last minute shopping today and the store we were in had that frenzied feeling ...
It is very common this time in December.
I know “that frenzied feeling” well …
Several times it has taken me down.
Tanked my Christmas spirit.
Hijacked my joy.
Chewed me up and spit me out.
Made me want to just offer a few words of advice …
Things I have learned the hard way about these treacherous days before, during and after Christmas:
- Lower your expectations …
- Accept the imperfect, in others and in yourself …
- Laugh at things that go wrong …
- If you have no time to connect with God, at least practice the Jesus prayer – “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God … have mercy on me, a sinner, saved by grace…” This one prayer covers a multitude of situations …
- Before you get out of bed in the morning, thank God for a few things … as simple as a good night’s sleep, the health to get out of bed, and enough food for the day ...
- See difficult relatives and family members as great opportunities to allow God to teach you the power of forgiveness and love. As they open their mouths, think to yourself: School is in session ...
- Forgive yourself …
- Watch for grace in the most unexpected of places …
- Don’t expect other people to make you happy; rest your expectations in God where they belong …
- And last, but not least (and this is straight from the Bible): Take a little wine for your stomach. It will do wonders!
Merry Christmas!
