my take on Christmas....

Another Christmas is now behind us.. as I look back on it, honestly "the season" commercially is great for UPS business but it is a total pain in the butt for the employee of said company who work feverishly & tirelessly 6-7 days a week to get boxes from point A to point B efficiently & expeditiously as is possible.. I've worked their 28 Christmas's and for me peak season starts in October and stops next week.. I share this thought with anyone who works in a service based commodity where "tension of the season" adds to a personal stress level. I hear the exhaustion in the conversations with others, I read it in the facebook posts of friends who are stressed with rehearsals for productions of choir/drama, decorating, shopping, wrapping, entertaining, traveling, being with family, being without family, cleaning up, putting it away.  whew!


I too got wrapped up in this while our kids grew up in our home, the expectations to "show" my Christmas spirit, while "losing" it in the process.  Add the work stress of deadlines with constant changes, plans that have to be altered, and than I go home.... oh so exhausted & stressed... to just what everyone else goes through... LIFE.. but...


Now that our kids are grown, here's where I've made a change that I can control and I WISH I'D done it many years ago..  I'm absolutely NOT into the commercial side of Christmas what-so-ever. Instead I've tried to spread the love towards family/friends out over the course of the year, mainly with visits more often, gifts while shopping when I see them for someone in particular who comes to mind. Nothing heroic but it is absolutely stress free, enjoyable, and I survive the holiday season based totally on the commercial demands of society ~ unscathed.  There do end up to be a few things under the tree, or lovingly placed into an envelope for them to enjoy in whatever delights their hearts given with love.  


““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28   Isn't that great... all other "religions" promises ONLY that if "you do something for it, than you will receive something in return if its granted to you".. How did Christmas becomes so out of control, we let it get that way by choice.

And the trade off is; that the actual "reason for the season" the celebration of the birth of Jesus can be the focus of December 25th. Jesus who was given as a gift to humanity whose sinful nature separates us from eternity in Heaven with God upon our for sure deaths. He lived a short life, but came with the intention to spread the Gospel of the Lord, to be the example of love, grace, mercy & to teach the disciples how to disciple this and he lived sinless amongst mankind while being a human. And than he died a horrible dreadful death on the cross to atone for our sins and to bridge "our" gap that separates us.. What do we have to do to gain eternal life.. simply to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and make him the Lord of our life..  that's it..


But there is more... because we are left to live here on earth.. to just accept Christ for eternity sake and than to go back to our sinning life without following his example given with reading & learning the bible for the truth of the Christian faith. Without scripture, fellowship of believers, leaves us empty & missing out on the abundant life.  Because the abundant life HERE ON EARTH is a promise written in scripture for you and for me.. 

1. 2 Corinthians 9:8
   And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2. 1 Timothy 1:14
   The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

isn't that fantastic..  Here's to a tremendous 2011 lived to glorify God.... and joyfully