Find joy in the holiday season

Holidays are a time everyone anticipates.

Whether it is excitement or dread, the anticipation is there

The holiday season is one filled with stress, busy schedules, shopping to find just the right gift and coordinating schedules to see family and friends.

I love the Christmas season, but sometimes I feel like the Whos in Whoville running around in a frenzy trying to get presents for everyone, plan events and get all the fun things checked on my list. 

Many Christmas movies we watched as children have a similar message — “finding the true meaning of Christmas.” They try to demonstrate that Christmas is about family and friends, not gifts or lights or trees.

I think Christmas is so commercialized that we’ve forgotten the very thing our childhood movies told us. Christmas is a time for families to get together, it’s a time to celebrate Jesus’ birth together. 

We are in such a fast-paced society that we forget how blessed we truly are.

Most have families that get together, celebrating the holidays, but some don’t have that.

We burnt the turkey but it’s OK because we can eat the other foods.

We over-planned the day, but we have time to enjoy each other's company.

We are stressed trying to hit all the events, but we have events to make it through.

Even if you don’t identify with, what I’m saying is there is something you are blessed with — a roof over your head, an education, a good friend, the list could go on and on. You just have to look. 

Even though there is stress in the holidays, you can find peace in Jesus. This whole season is because of his birth. He came to the earth for you and these days we forget to celebrate that. 

We go to church because it’s what is expected but then we go on with the chaos, forgetting the whole point of Christmas.

Your challenge from me this season is to sit down and remember how much you are blessed, not by just the stuff you like but the blessings that come with challenges too. When going to church on Christmas Eve, really listen and stay after a bit and talk to someone. Show someone kindness while Christmas shopping.

Christmas is a time for giving, so if you have nothing physical to give, you can still give your time and your kindness.

Find time to show Christ’s love to those around you and I promise it will make you better too.