4 Practical Ways to Enjoy this Crazy Christmas

What is this Christmas going to look like?

Even though it is right around the corner, it is really anyone’s guess.

I’ve made my lists (I love lists) and I’ve checked them twice. And as I do, there is an unfamiliar gulf of sadness that is accompanying me like a Dickens’ specter this year.

Are any of these questions haunting you:

Will my people want to get together? Will some balk at restrictions that make others comfortable? Will some be unwilling because of their justifiable concern for their own fragile health or the fragile health of someone they care for? Will some be unable because of job descriptions that suddenly include exclusions on gatherings? Will some feel the squeeze of finances acutely enough to make them unable to participate? What if I’m alone this year?

So many new questions and concerns this year.

And these questions don’t even cover the normal stress many of us experience around the holidays: stress of strained family relationships, overbearing relatives, the cooking, cleaning, buying and wrapping.

Each year around this time, it seems a call goes out that we should look beyond the hubbub of the Christmas season to the “real meaning of Christmas.” Often, our favorite Hallmark Christmas movies tell us that the real meaning is the gift of friends and family.

What is this Christmas going to look like? Will my people be able to get together? If you are a Believer in Jesus Christ, you know your joy is found only in Jesus. That beautiful truth doesn’t exactly stop the aching loneliness of being alone and bereft of your beloved traditions. We need more than the words of this sentiment. We need a way to access the felt truth behind the sentiment. #ChristianBlog #ChristmasIdeas

What do we do when that falls through? What do we do when some dear friends or family members are the very ones who cause us pain? What do we do when our ability to see the ones we love is restricted or eliminated by a world-wide outbreak?

If you are a Believer in Jesus Christ, you have, I’m sure seen through the mirage of depending on friends and family for your happiness. You know your joy is found only in Jesus. What a beautiful truth, but can we be honest? That beautiful truth doesn’t exactly stop the aching loneliness of being alone and bereft of your beloved traditions. We need more than the words of this sentiment. We need a way to access the felt truth behind the sentiment.

Let’s look at some practical ways we can enjoy more of Jesus and His goodness in our lives this year:

1.       Expect less. If we can manage to stop thinking about what Christmas “should” be, we can accept whatever blessings come as a gift instead of only a portion of what is due to us. And when I speak of expecting less, I’m not just speaking of expecting fewer visits and less from the people around us, I’m also speaking of expecting less from ourselves. Many of us go into overdrive trying to make up for what is lacking, but now is a great time to give grace – not only to others, but to ourselves. Seriously, giving grace and receiving it will be the best Christmas gift, infusing this season with peace.

This Christmas is... different. For most of us, there’s just no getting around that. And, like you, the changes to my Christmas are not pleasant or of my choosing. Nevertheless, there will be blessings if we are willing to seek them out and partner with the Lord to create them. #ChristmasIdeas #ChristmasQuotes

2.       Worship. I know that many of us think of Christmas worship as something we do on the Sunday around Christmas or at a Christmas Eve candlelight service, but if we can keep our eyes on Jesus and His goodness in coming in human form, it is going to give us a better perspective than we get most years. Break out of that thinking that confines worship to places or events. Make a special Christmas Worship playlist on your phone, devoid of the “HoHoHo” and “Frosty” stuff and crank it up around the house. Sing along and praise God in this season!

3.       Find the Little Gifts. Now, I’m not just talking about the tangible and meaningful gifts. I’m talking about the unexpected blessings. Maybe you are so rushed in the Christmas whirlwind most years that you have missed some of the other blessings that will be yours to cherish this year: a cup of cocoa by the fire, the chance to take a walk all bundled up to take goodies to a neighbor who’s alone, sitting by the tree as the lights twinkle in your spouse’s eyes. Find some new and inventive ideas to celebrate this year. Perhaps some new traditions will be born.

4.       Quirky Quarantine Fun. If family or friend gatherings are completely out for you this year and “Zoom Gloom” has left you dull and speechless, try some fun conversation starter games over Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, etc. Have you heard of games like Vertellis (https://vertellis.com/) or Apple Pie? They can be great conversation starters. You don’t even need to make it a game, you can just use the questions as jumping off points to go deeper than the weather and the ball game with your family.

Strange year? Yes, indeed. Not able to celebrate normal traditions? Likely. (And, oh, how I LOVE traditions!) But sometimes breaking out of the mold can show us new blessings we never would have discovered without this disruption.

May the Lord bless your Christmas season, dear Friends. May He bless you and your family with the peace that comes with grace, the joy of worship, the warmth of small gifts just from God to you and may He bless your family with deeper love for one another.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.” Luke 1:68

To read about the challenges of disappointment, especially at Christmastime, read the blog titled, “Forgiving the Gap” HERE!

And to access the Free Resource titled, “4 Steps to Overcoming Rejection,” click HERE!