I had had it! I felt like I was doing it all on my own – writing the children’s program at church, decorating my house and preparing for the annual Christmas party at our house. I had gone all out! There was a Christmas tree in every room. I walked through the rooms and thought about all the fighting with the kids to get their rooms clean. I had yelled at my daughter for putting too much of an ingredient in one of the dishes as she tried to help me. It was not my finest moment! I yelled at the kids at church for being kids and got in my car and drove home.
It was a hard lesson to learn that a perfect Christmas was not the goal. Love was the goal. I shifted from perfection to relationships. I knew that as I relaxed others would too. I repented of my drive to try to make the world think I was something that I was not.
Learn to let go of perfection
The first Christmas was truly messy and smelly. Jesus was born in a stable and the first visitors were lowly shepherds who probably had body odor and smelled of dirty sheep.
Journal Prompt: Describe a memory that started out as a mess and became the best time ever.
Open your heart to those who might not have a place to go
One of the best Christmas times was the year that my kids invited their friends to come who had no place to go. We laughed and learned about their traditions.
Journal Prompt: Describe a time when you were invited to celebrate when you h ad no where to go.
Value what everyone brings to the table
Let go of unrealistic expectations that everyone will be transformed during this special time. Aunt Susie will continue to be hard of hearing and hard to please. Uncle Tommy will continue to complain about how awful kids are these days. You get the picture.
Journal Prompt: Describe a difficult family member and mention their redeeming qualities.
Express your love
A new friend was with me one day when I took care of my granddaughter. After the precious little girl went home, she turned to me with tears in her eyes and said, “Viola heard ‘I love you’ more times in a couple hours than I heard my entire life.” Don’t let that be your legacy. Speak the three words freely.
Journal Prompt: What are the most original ways you can say ‘I love you’?
Away in a Manger
Away in a manger,
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay.
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing
The Baby awakes
The little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle
til morning is nigh.
The Baby awakes
The little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle
til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there.
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there.
Click here for all the journal prompts.
Author, speaker, corporate trainer, ordained minister and Hope Catalyst, Karen Sebastian enjoys sharing her rich life experiences with others – engaging them in adventurous discoveries of the beauty of hope in a dark, cloudy world. Her books will inspire you to embrace hope no matter what you are going through. Turn on the HOPE Light
