Hands down, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, especially for Christians, because we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas should be a festive, cheerful, happy time but for many it is not. Leading-up to Christmas and on Christmas day many people feel lonely, sad, depressed, anxious and stressed. Are you one of them? Are you dreading Christmas?

Why are you dreading Christmas?

The truth is… Christmas is the hardest time of the year for many people because as Pastor Andy Stanley said, “It makes you think of what you don’t have and who you don’t have.” There are many reasons people dread Christmas: you feel lonely because you have no family, no girl/boyfriend, no friends or you recently divorced, broke-up with your girl/boyfriend or you just didn’t want to do the family Christmas thing. It could be that you have no money, you’re unable to fulfill others expectations; you lost a loved one and this is your first Christmas without her/him; you’re spending Christmas with a relative you don’t like or with your ex and his/her new partner because of the children or with your in-laws, and the list goes on and on.

What should you do?

If you are dreading Christmas, you’re not alone. We have all gone through something(s) or will go through something(s) in our lifetime but how we deal with it makes the difference. Maybe just talking to a friend, relative, teacher, or pastor might help or you may need to seek professional help. There are many articles out there with great ideas of things to do to help you get through the Christmas season, i.e., volunteer at a church or charity, help someone in need, pamper yourself, travel, work on a hobby/project, how to manage your money/expectations, etc.. You may want to try one or a combination of ideas to help you get through the season. I pray you find what helps you through the season. As my Mom would say, “This too shall pass.”

What I dreaded the most…

I dreaded losing my Mom and when she died, I dreaded all firsts without her (i.e., Christmas, New Year’s, Mother’s Day, her birthday, my birthday). Now going back to what I said earlier, how we deal with it makes the difference. Well, I dealt with it with God’s help. God helped me get through all “firsts” without Ma. I remember God telling me, “Ma is not here but I am. I’ll always be with you.” And He reminded me that “…I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5. At that moment I felt His precious love wrapped around me, and His perfect peace, yes, that peace that surpasses all understanding. I felt His inexplicable joy, the joy that makes you feel good even when things are not good. That’s why I’ll never stop thanking and praising my God, my Father for all He has done and continues to do in my life and in the life of my family. God got me through the biggest lost in my life and He can do the same for you. Try God and Trust God!

Show love to those who are dreading Christmas…

If you are one of those people looking forward to Christmas, I encourage you to show love to those who are dreading Christmas. You can show love in so many ways. Be kind, mindful, thoughtful, sensitive, helpful, supportive, caring and patient. Help as much as allowed, stay in touch, give them space, don’t pressure or bully them, respect their wishes, don’t judge, listen, pray with them and for them, let them know that you care and you’re there for them (and really mean it).

Deb’s list of things to get you in the Christmas spirit…

1) Remember the reason for the season… Jesus. So stay focused on Jesus. 2) Decorate. Even if it’s one Christmas ornament. Lol! 3) Read your Bible. This is a great time to read about the miraculous birth of Jesus and why this one event changed the world forever. I encourage you to read Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-20. I enjoy reading it every year and it still fascinates me. 4) Watch videos/movies about the birth of Jesus to gain a better understanding of this world changing event. 5) Watch a variety of Christmas programs and movies. I’ve been watching the Hallmark channel, they show the best Christmas movies. I’m hooked! I love watching the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” 6) Play Christmas music. Sing along and dance! I love the classical songs but I also love me some Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, Patti Labelle (just to name a few) Christmas CDs. It’s a Christmas party up in here!

If you are dreading Christmas…

Contact me! Tell me why you are dreading Christmas. I won’t share. I’ll pray for you, in agreement with your prayer. I’ll encourage you with God’s Word. Sometimes we just need to know that someone cares, and I’ll tell you, I care! I don’t have to know you to care about you. All I know is that you are precious to God and that’s all I need to know.

More important, I hope you know that God our Father, your Creator, and His Son Jesus Christ, your Savior, love you! They care about you more than you will ever imagine and that is God’s truth.

Merry Christmas from my  to yours!  

Bible Reflection

“… Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5 NLT

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 NIV

“but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:10-11 NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:26 NLT

“Love is patient, love is kind.: 1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16 NIV

Listen to Feel God Music

Patti LaBelle – Reason for the Season (Music Video)

From Deb’s  to yours…

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