|
 We may have been hopeful that we would be
surprised by Christmas, but instead we feel like we have merely
survived the celebration.
Do you wonder what you were really expecting from Christmas? Our
expectations may vary depending upon our definition. What is your
definition of Christmas?
Some Christian people define Christmas as an exclusive focus upon
the unique birth of the baby they believe to have been the Son of
God. For such a pointed focus there is no room for Santa, reindeer,
holly, lights and decorations, etc. Christmas may still be
celebrated, but in a somber fashion.
Some thoroughly secular people focus only on a season of good
feeling and festivities. Any emphasis on "Christmas Story" is likely
to be relegated to cultural mythology that is tolerated as a part of
the emotionally uplifting season.
Most of us are between these two extremes. You may need to define
what Christmas really is to YOU.
Here are some thoughts for you to consider create more satisfying
experiences and memories of the holidays:
- What faith expectations do you want to have met?
- What emotional needs do you want the Christmas observance to
satisfy?
- What are your family expectations and community expectations that
you deal with?
- Are these expectations there because you are committed to them, or
simply because you feel obligated?
- What pressure do you sense from others to "do Christmas" a certain
way?
- When you have answered these questions you may be ready "reboot,"
turn off the machine that is carrying you into an out-of-control
Christmas.
The following suggestions are offered to help you rethink and reset
your Christmas goals and expectations.
Set reasonable expectations consistent with your beliefs about
Christmas
Commit only to what you believe in. Do only those things that fit
your deep values. Being tolerant of diverse approaches to Christmas
activities does not mean you have to be involved in those actions.
Budget your Christmas
Gifts, decorations, travel expenses, meals, and specialty food items
all have the ability to lead you to spend money you do not have
available. Planning ahead and setting boundaries for spending in
each area enables you anticipate a less stressful Post-Christmas
season.
Guard against depression
What? Depression in the "season to be jolly?" Breaking away from
discouraging and aimless activities can keep you from the despair of
feeling hopeless and discouraged because you didn't do everything
that you thought Christmas involved.
[to top of second column] |
Give for the joy of giving
Giving because you love is far different from giving to engender
love. Keeping score on gifts makes giving more like an empty ritual.
Consider trimming your giving list. Some friends or relatives may be
relieved when you say, "Let's not give to each other this year.
Let's give to someone who has greater need." That might enable you
to expand your giving list, either to include people you know to be
in need, or through programs in churches or social agencies that
specialize in caring for people, especially children, whose needs
are great.
Decorate "retro"
Young adults or recently relocated people may not have Christmas
decorations in storage, but those who have experienced many
Christmases often have older decorations that never come out of the
box anymore.
Experience gleeful nostalgia. Your children may find delight in the
oldies. Your budget may delight in what you did not spend this year.
Nobody really believes that elaborate spending on decorations either
produces or demonstrates the real Christmas Spirit.
Start early to "get your mind around" Christmas
Christmas should not blind-side any of us. Retailers and E-tailers
urge us to start our Christmas spending early. We can have better
control of our celebration if we move even earlier on our Christmas
thinking and planning.
Discuss Christmas expectations with the people you are closest to.
This should probably have taken place last month, but tomorrow at
the latest. . .
Do you need help in stirring your Christmas Spirit? Use Netflix or
other movie sources to watch, maybe even binge-watch classic
Christmas movies. . .
Read the Christmas story in the Bible before the days you expect it
to be read in your church. . .
As the various Christmas programs and concerts begin to pop-up in
different places in the community, go to several of them, including
presentations in churches and venues other than the ones you usually
attend. And go, not as a critic, but as a participant.
If you will consider these suggestions, and adopt a few of them,
your January reflections on Christmas are definitely likely to be
less stressful, and probably somewhat merrier. Make Christmas what
you really want it to be. Make it YOUR Christmas.
|
