The pressure to be perfect is all around us. It’s in our conversations, in the commercials we hear and see, it’s in our own heads. We put the pressure to be perfect on ourselves more than anyone else does. The pressure for perfection is not healthy, and it rarely shows up more obviously than at Christmas. The pressure to have a “perfect Christmas,” whatever that means to you, will set you up for a lot of different emotions, mostly unhealthy ones.
Ever since the Garden of Eden, insistence on perfection is futile and destructive. There is no such thing as a “perfect” anything in this world. We can have pleasing, positive, productive experiences when we drop the insistence on our unrealistic standards for perfection.
The keys to a fulfilling, pleasing Christmas are simple, not demanding:
Remember: The real meaning of Christmas is that Jesus willingly stepped into the middle of our messy imperfect Christmas with love and changed everything. When we focus on Him with gratitude and love and live like Him through Christmas, we will find ourselves making positive investments even in the mess.
Reflect: Especially reflect on your blessings, especially the ones that money can’t buy. Sure, there have been and are disappointments, but reflect on how God has been with you and how you trust that He is working. Don’t deny them but reflect in faith.
Read: The accounts of Christ’s birth in Matthew and Luke set the tone. My family for decades, back from my earliest memories, has always read the Luke 2 account before anyone opens a present. It gives us focus. We conclude with a prayer of thanksgiving. Perhaps your family does that too. If not, it might be the year to start.
Enjoy: Determine to put your whole heart into all you do. Every get-together, every celebration deserves all of you, your presence, and your focus. Enjoy all of the celebrations of Christmas.
If you have the opportunity to be together with family and friends, actively plan and play games, watch movies, share your favorite foods. If your family is slow on conversation, think of a few fun or interesting questions to ask for everyone to participate. If your Christmas tree could talk, what would it say about your family? What do your Christmas decorations say about your favorites? Favorite Christmas movie? Favorite Christmas memory?
If you are spending a lot of time alone, don’t allow yourself to get into a funk. We have all been or will be there at some time. There are many uplifting and entertaining movies and performances on TV and radio. Light a few candles, get a cup of hot chocolate or coffee, and enjoy. YouTube has many Christmas musicals. Tommee Profitt’s “The Birth of a King” is spectacular. Do you know someone else who is alone? Invite them over. Go someplace to serve. When the focus is off our aloneness, we are most powerful.
May you have a blessed Christmas with the Christ who changes everything.
NewPointe Christmas Eve services: newpointe.org/christmas