I have recently been thinking about the aura of stress that is associated with Christmas! There seems to be a balancing act that comes with celebrating the season and also keeping our (and others’) expectations in check. Yes, we’re all excited to celebrate the Birth of Jesus and we value time spent with family and close friends. But there is stress involved in it all~
I want to encourage you to keep your emotional cup full. Make plans that you can accommodate without becoming stressed out. Say no to things you don’t really want to do - it’s OK! Plan a few activities that will energize you - not just by being physically present, but by being emotionally charged. The holiday season accentuates the reality of where we are in life. If you’re visiting with family members where there is relational tension or if you have had a significant life change this year, don’t be hard on yourself if you feel sad at certain times and even cry. I’ve found that a good cry is medicine for the soul! When our family went around the Thanksgiving table sharing what they were thankful for, I burst into tears on my turn! The sad thing was that I couldn’t stop crying. I was overcome with thankfulness for my family, but was also sad for loved ones that weren’t at the table with us. (As I reflected later I thought, “Where did THAT come from?”)
What fills your emotional cup? Gauge your emotional health during this Christmas season. Are you irritable with others? Do you run from one thing to another? Are you stressed out? Being emotionally healthy will help you enjoy this special season instead of just enduring it.
I haven’t commented on spiritual health because we all know that daily time with the Lord is our top priority. Staying in tune to our spiritual health will affect our emotional state. Praise God that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He is the one that empowers us to stay in the game.
I hope you are having a great Advent season. May God give you the confidence of His abiding presence this Christmas. Immanuel – God with us!
--Mary Wallace Wilson
