December is always a busy time of year. The traditions that have been piled on century after century, instead of bringing us the peace that is desired, leave most of us stressed, irritable, and out of control. So much is expected of us or so we believe. How can we cope with it all while maintaining our jobs and taking care of our families?
First of all we have a free will. We can decide to do only that which we can do well and that which we should do. Christmas, first and foremost, is a spiritual time of the year, it is not meant to bring on stress or make us fretful and resentful of the season. It is a birthday celebration for our Lord, and it is meant to give everyone hope for the future, and more immediate, hope for the future.
That, of course is easier to say than to do. To put it into practice we have to tune out a lot of the commercial aspects that take on ever more control of our lives with each passing year. Of course we need to buy gifts for our children, or give them something to please them, in honor of the baby being born. But that sometime should be a joy for all, not an all out mall invading parade day after day.
Things, toys, new clothes, gadgets, jewelry are good to give and are good to receive. In moderation. But what is more important is to get in touch with the season. Stay at home more with the children, prepare them for Christmas, or what other December holiday that fits in with your family.
Love them, make them feel an important part of the family, and make them feel secure. No parent wants to give their children the feeling that preparing for the big day is a burden. That is sending them the wrong message. Read them the Christmas story, the Jewish story of the holiday, or whatever, but instill the real meaning into them. Don't let them grow up the notion that December is the month for them to clean out the toy stores at their parents expense.
Depression is at an all time time at Christmas time, and the days after. Why is that? For anyone, even the most normal of individuals, if there is any of those around these days, feel somewhat depressed when the first hints of winter arrive. It has something to do with the time to slow down, hibernation may not be exactly the fitting word, but at least a time to sit around the fireside and talk, read, and watch television, and get in touch with ourselves, our family, and most important our God.
Seen in that light, the Christmas celebration is a diversion, a time to keep our spirits up, and is against the normal depressed times. For those who don't understand that, the time is bleak indeed. Something is needed to fill in the void of these sparse months, of January, February and March, and Christmas is meant to give us enough staying power -- and belief, hope and love -- that we will have less problems coping until the first glint of spring.
These feeling are seasonal and are older then Christianity, but are as Godlike as you can get. If we were never to glimpse what it means to be on the other side of happiness and joy, how would we know to welcome it when it comes. I have no proof that the next paragraph I am going to write is factual,true, or if it just so much rambling on, but I feel I must say it.
The mind can control depression and the feelings of hopeless, to a degree, at least. If we can get in the habit of thinking, when we are blue, depressed and down, that we are, by our accepting these bleak times without grumbling, making it easier on someone else to go through some tough time.
If you believe, as I do, that nothing is wasted with God, then it will be easy to accept whatever comes and use it for His purpose. This is one way Christians deal with bleak times. And yes, before I forget I must say we don't need to know what his purpose is, only that He has one. If we knew, we would only succeed in fouling it up, is what I believe.
No comments:
Post a Comment