Navigating through the Christmas Blues

 Yep…we’ve all been there. Here are some thoughts to consider:

 

1.    Be Selective with your Memories.  Some memories stir up loneliness, heartache or yearning for the past that will never be again. Choose memories that bring joy, peace and hope for the future. Oh yes…and don’t forget to enjoy the moment! It will one day be a memory.

 

2.    Be Sensible about your Schedule and Spending.  There’s nothing wrong with visiting friends and family…but not every weekend! There’s nothing wrong with giving someone a gift or two…but not so many that it takes the rest of the year to pay back your credit cards!

 

3.    Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. Be patient when someone makes a mistake. Don’t turn a simple oversight into a family catastrophe. So what if he/she forgot to mail the Christmas cards on time. Hey…someone will get an “after Christmas” surprise card!

 

4.    Get the Big Picture. Hmmm…let’s see. What does the word “Christmas” really mean? Well, if you looked it up in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, you’d find that it actually means “Christ’s mass.” Interesting. It also tells you the word “mass” (in Latin) means to be dismissed…or to be sent out. Okay…so that’s what’s supposed to happen after Christmas. God is sending you and me out into the world to make a difference in someone else’s life.

So, Elvis was right! I’ll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas without You, Lord. If the risen Christ (not just baby Jesus) is the One who is missing from your life this Christmas, then after the celebration, your heart will be as empty as your bank account. Sure, we celebrate the Birth of Christ. Yes, we gather with friends and families and exchange gifts. But it’s much, much more than that. Christmas marks the approaching of a new year and a new beginning for your life!  Christmas is the reality that God’s Son came to the earth to give everyone who trusts in Him a new beginning…physically, emotionally and spiritually. That, my friend, will change your “Blue” Christmas into a “New” Christmas! God is giving you another year to share the Savior’s love with others. When you realize what He did for you, He can help you to change blue lives into new lives everywhere you go! Have a wonderful Christmas journey…in 2010!