Christmas is here!

That time of year for childlike excitement, and turn-your-hair-gray stress all at the same time.

Why is that?

I have a theory. It’s our DNA (Director of Navigating Amazing).

We’ve convinced ourselves we’re in charge of the perfect Christmas experience.

Am I right?

Let’s do a quick rundown of four types of stress we face:

• Materialistic Stress

Spoiler alert: Every kiss does not begin with Kay, unless your name is Kay.

Here’s a little story I call “The Year of the Christmas Fluff”

Looking back over my “growing-up” years, I can see how God provided for my family, even when we weren’t exactly living for Him. We didn’t know what being a true Christian meant, so we kept God in a neat little box called Sunday.

I remember this one Christmas, friends were coming over for cookies and hot chocolate. We had more than enough gifts under the tree, but somehow we felt it was lacking.

So we actually did this…

We went hunting through clothes we already had, pulled out extra boxes, and put them under the tree to give the impression of more. Wow, I know.

So yeah, we were fluffers, but just that one time.

Keep in mind, this was “BC” before we really knew Christ. It wasn’t until much later in life I learned:

More stuff doesn’t = a perfect Christmas

• Financial Stress

Financial stress may actually be guilt tied to the wallet.

Have we spent enough? Have we spent too much? We don’t have enough to spend. We’ve spent too much, and now we don’t have enough left over…

Enough already.

Stop. Feeling. Guilty.

It may be too late to budget for this year, but it’s not too early to budget for next.

• Crazy Schedule Stress

We run ourselves ragged, trying to cram in as many Christmas events as humanly possible.

Key word? Human.

We’re human and we’re running on empty. Even a caramel mocha peppermint snowflake latte won’t fix it.

Choose only the most meaningful Christmas gatherings and events.

It’s okay to say no when you can’t go.

• Emotional Stress 

We miss people more this time of year. We feel lonely in a roomful of people. We gather with family and friends who don’t always share our beliefs and values. We may even be forced to co-mingle with annoying people. Imagine that.

Maybe that is the point, to be a light and show love to even the most unlovable.

Newsflash, we probably annoy some people too.

Truth is, we manufacture most of the stress ourselves, don’t we?

Perhaps the diagnosis is PERFECTIONITIS?

Yes, I made that word up, but you know what I mean.

“For perfectionists, life is an endless report card on accomplishments or looks. It’s a fast track to unhappiness… What makes perfectionism so toxic is that while those in its grip desire success, they are most focused on avoiding failure, so theirs is a negative orientation.” Psychology Today

Let me just say, it’s okay if not all of us are bakers, and not all of us are crafty.

Let’s stop trying to live up to our own huge expectations.

We can’t be a blessing when we’re stressing. Take a breath.

If we don’t get it exactly right on this one day, we are not failures we are fine. We’ll still be celebrating Jesus long after the tree is tossed and the cats eat the tinsel.

So what do we do?

We remember a true story:

Mary’s story, our story, HIStory…

JESUS

We are celebrating Jesus, not everything i and Apple, including Aunt Martha’s apple pie.

Another cool thing?

We are in the Christmas story.

Did you ever think of Christmas in that way?

God had you and me on His mind when He came as a babe, born of a virgin, on that Oh Holy Night.

Mary said, “let it be as you have said.”

Let it be…

Christmas is not meant to be a stress-fest, let it be a bless-fest.

May the peace of God reign in your hearts through this season and always.

Love to you all, and have a blessed and Merry Christmas!

P.S. If we find ourselves losing sight of what Christmas is all about, we can click on the link below and allow Linus to remind us.

For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11