Celebrating Christmas Differently!

By Jarod Dyess

The year has gone by so quickly and we yet again arrive to the “Holiday Season”. Here we are getting ready to celebrate Christmas – a time when things seem to be quite different than the rest of the year. Hallmark movies flood Netflix and cable channels, extra lights go up around the house, and department stores’ sales soar off the charts. When it’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of year, if can easily become the most stressful time of the year. However, the frenzy of Christmas doesn’t have to drive you mad, if you are willing to follow these steps:

1. Remind yourself that Jesus is the purpose of all the celebration. When you’re in line at the store, cooking up a feast, or getting ready for the next get-together, remember it’s about Jesus, not you. If Jesus isn’t the center of your festivities, you are really missing the point. If not for the gift of Christ, your parties, presents, and paraphernalia are in vain.​
2. Be a servant this year. The holiday season should be filled with more than just buying unnecessary presents, it should be a time to focus on generosity of all kinds. Opening your home to others, letting someone else decide what’s for dinner, being the first one to volunteer to wash dishes are just a few examples. So, when you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, remember that Jesus was a servant and following his example is a call to all believers.
3. Make a commitment to share the Gospel with someone at least once per week this advent. What is the greatest thing you can share? It’s Jesus. And a fantastic way to remind your family about the meaning of Christmas is to model the life of a disciple-maker.
4. Simplify! Don’t buy into the commercialism. Your kids don’t need every hottest toy, you don’t have to overwork yourself, or try to make everything perfect. Sometimes less is more, which also save you a headache. Where will you end up if every year you keep trying to outdo yourself?
5. Create new traditions. Traditions are what you make them, don’t follow traditions if you don’t even enjoy them or know why you’re doing it. But a great way to celebrate Christmas is to create new traditions in your family. They may be small or very complex, but creating new traditions will create memories to last a life-time.

​
This Advent and Christmas choose a different way to celebrate. What’s most important is finding a way to love God and love people this season – So whatever you do this year, consider celebrating Christmas with your family and others in a way that is fun, meaningful, and honors God!