Too many Christmases have come and gone leaving me with a nagging sense of discontent. Without ever intending it, I am catching my breath after Christmas, fatigued from all the good will. How can we make this Christmas more meaningful and less exhausting? If we hope for a Christmas worth remembering, we will need to start now considering new ways and patterns. Here are four suggestions:
- Slow down and savor the season– Christmas has become a season for speed. We race from one shop to another, one party to another, meet year-end deadlines at work and generally speed up everything. Some of this is unavoidable. What we can do is balance the speed with intentional periods of extreme slow. Times where we stop and savor the full joy of the season. We do this practically, by driving slower, walking slower, scheduling a few less events, and planning slow events, like watching a Christmas movie. By doing such, we create a rhythm that makes both the festivities and the more peaceful moments enjoyable.
- Reconcile with a loved one– Christmas is known as a time for family and friends. Ideally, that would be a pleasant thought, but the reality is that family and friendships are fraught with dysfunction and alienation. Usually, we just plow through the brokenness pretending it doesn’t exist. The Christmas season offers a great opportunity to heal wounds. I recognize that this is much easier written than done. The key is to move gently. A simple kind word or compliment in a place where brooding silence usually exists can turn the tide. A phone call may break the disconnect built up over years. Moving toward reconciliation does not have to mean a major confrontation. Use Christmas to lightly change the misdirection of the relationship. Sometimes, a small change through a kind word can start a new pattern that will eventually make a major difference. Why not try to reach out first to mend the relationship?
- Connect with someone who needs a friend– Ironically, Christmas is one of the loneliest seasons for many people. We miss loved ones who have died. We sense that others have many friends, and we do not. Whether you are one who is lonely or one who has a full quiver of friendships, Christmas is the perfect season to reach out to someone else who might need a friend. Cast aside the awkwardness and invite a friend in need to coffee, lunch, dinner, or a Christmas event. Help make Christmas a season of joy for everyone.
- Move toward God– Christmas is a perfect opportunity to pause and reflect about our faith walk. How great would it be if we could counteract the commercialization of Christmas by intentionally choosing to engage with God? Wherever you may be in your faith, Christmas is a time when you can take a step toward God. It may be to open your Bible for the first time in a long time or read a devotional. It may be to go to church or to pray again. The key is not where you are in our faith, it is where you are headed. The Christmas story, in its essence, says that God moved toward us in the person of Jesus. Perhaps this Christmas we can also move toward Him.
We can reclaim this Christmas as a season for good, for growth, and for relationships, both with others and with God. Don’t wait until Christmas Eve to begin reframing Christmas. Start right now. Think now what you will do to move Christmas in the right direction.
How will you make this Christmas one to remember?
