41. A less stressful Christmas season, Meridian, Dec. 13

Tonight I am including a great article I read on the Meridian Magazine on Dec. 13, 2013.

This article was called "December Stress, or December Joy?"
by Darla Isackson (condensed some)

Do you have mixed feelings, at best, about December? Then you’ll relate to the following journal entry I wrote a few years ago . . . and you’ll be interested in the ideas I’ve collected. They are guidelines, really, for more Christ-centered, less stressful choices for the Christmas season.

“The Saturday after Thanksgiving, my husband pulled all the Christmas boxes out of storage and offered to help me assemble our artificial tree.  How did December get here so quickly? Letters to family, friends, and missionaries needed to be written, neighbor and visiting teaching presents wrapped and delivered. I hadn’t even begun to decide on many of the presents I needed to give family and close friends! And now, what if I couldn’t finish the picture histories I had started for each son? 

“I went to bed early with a headache, but didn’t sleep well. About 2:00 a.m. I wrapped up in a warm afghan, and drug myself to my “inspiration corner” (a place in the living room where I keep scriptures, notebook, and my prayer and ponder pages).  I started a “to do” list in an attempt to clear the clutter in my mind. 

The Spirit Brings Relief

“My tired eyes landed on my Bible; I picked it up reverently and turned to the second Chapter of Luke.

‘And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’ (Luke 2: 8-14

     This photo is of Wayne M's family dressed for the Christmas Eve Baby Jesus Story, from the Bible.  (Probably 25 years ago or so).  This was always our Christmas Eve Tradition as long as we had children home.  Now we read the beautiful words from the Bible.  The youngest child was the Baby Jesus.  One daughter, Pam, was born on Dec. 21st, and we brought her home on Christmas Day in a large red flannel stocking the hospital provided!  (We don't have a picture of that!)

------------------- The article continued   . . . . . 

“The familiar, majestic words cleansed and refreshed my weary mind. “Tidings of great joy. . . . peace on earth”--that’s exactly what I needed! Waves of relief washed over me as I remembered that I truly have a choice: I can stay “in the world” and waste this Christmas season in stress and exhaustion. Or, I can choose peace and joy by remembering my Savior and what Christmas is all about. How grateful I felt in that moment for the scriptures--my anchor, my guide, my reminder of eternal perspectives and priorities.”

The Stress Question

How can I choose more joy than stress in December?  Still, some stress is healthy: new experiences and challenges energize me, help me think more sharply and function on a higher level.

However, stress is cumulative. Pains in my stomach, tight muscles, a foggy or forgetful mind clue me in that I’ve crossed the line from healthy stress to unhealthy.  I’ve sometimes been stubborn enough to ignore stress until it gets clear up to my eyebrows and stops me dead! 

Resisting What Is

Since I became an adult, I’ve always had mixed feelings about December. There are so many things I love: the music, the lights, the manger scenes, revisiting the story of the First Christmas, increased concern for the needy, for children, for the elderly. So, why have I so often gotten into unhealthy stress? In The Heart of the Soul, authors Gary Zukav and Linda Francis say, “Stress is resisting what is.” What  have I resisted that makes the Christmas season stressful for me? Well, for a starter, the increased traffic, the commercialism, and the ads that say you can give happiness by giving “things.”

What else do I resist about December? I resist the reality that there are the same number of hours in each December day and the same number of days in this month.   All the regular chores--cooking, laundry, cleaning, errands, church responsibilities and regular work still have to be done.   I resist seeing that it is obviously impossible to fit five times as many activities into a December day than any other day, and that I need the same amount of sleep and rest as usual in order to stay healthy.

 I resist knowing that it is crazy to start any major projects anytime near December.   I resist being realistic about the extra time it takes to drive anywhere and shop during December; I resist the reality of the lines and the waiting. I resist December expectations that don’t fit my personality, such as crafts and baking. 

Many Options, Many Choices

I can remember that the gift my family wants most is my love--and I’m not at all good at giving it when I am pressured, frazzled, worn out, and grouchy from lack of sleep. How can I embrace the positives of “What Is” about the Christmas season? Here are some of the ideas I’ve come up with:

• Set aside projects that are too time consuming. I can choose to good-naturedly assign a new time-frame, a new purpose to projects I can’t comfortably finish by this Christmas. Can I finish them for birthdays as they come along, or for next Christmas? 

• Make a “Not-To-Do” List

In years past I have asked each of my sons what traditions are important to them in this season. One of them said my special hot spiced punch had good memories for him and he wanted to continue that tradition. Such a simple thing! But how would I have known he cared if I hadn’t asked? The baking I resist so strongly, I put at the top of my “not--to-do” list! I’ve thought a lot about what is really important to me--spiritually, emotionally, physically. Any of the traditions or “busy work” that doesn’t seem to be important I add to my “not-to-do” list.

• Rejoice that Jesus was born. In my journal, or a special letter I can praise my Heavenly Father for giving His Only Begotten Son to save the world from sin and death.

• Have decorations that focus on Him.  When I make more room in my house for nativity scenes and pictures of Christ than for Santas and snowmen, I am also inclined to make more room for Christ in my heart.

• Fill my house with sacred music. When I sing and play my favorite cantatas or attend a select Christmas concert, I can fill my heart with “the wonder of Christmas.” 

• I can remember the December I spent savoring the story of Christ’s birth and ministry in Proctor’s book The Source of the Light. Each picture of the land where Jesus lived brings more reality to my thoughts of his life and mission. I could put that book in the living room again and spend time with it!

• Write my testimony of Christ to family members to go with whatever gifts I choose for them. On of the most important things I can give to them is the knowledge that I KNOW.

• Remember the importance of gifts that have family history significance, and plan to have more completed for them next year. 

• Start or reinstate Christ-centered traditions, such as a birthday party for Jesus--complete with a birthday cake. Or have each family member write on Christmas Eve what they intend to “give” Jesus during the New Year--and review how they did on last year’s promise. 

Putting First Things First

December is a great time to adopt the policy I read about in Elder Groberg’s book The Fire of Faith. He said that the more he had to do, the more important he considered it to spend time in prayer and scripture reading and asking the Lord’s Spirit to guide and strengthen and calm him. How wise to remember that guideline and try to follow it. I remember the Lord kindly counseling Mary about being “careful and troubled about many things.” I will ask the Lord to help me, instead, to choose the “one thing that is needful.” Christmas is such a perfect time to choose that “one thing” --to focus on the Savior.  If I try with all my heart to simply remember Jesus always, I can have the best Christmas gift of all--His Spirit to be with me.