by Rita Klundt
You’ve heard it from friends, on television and on the internet. But humor me, and check out my list below. I created it after having applied all but one of them…with varying results. Yesterday’s post had to do with expectations, and if you’re like me, you’re expecting a certain kind of Christmas this year. The idea (again, if you’re like me) is to prepare for Christmas, without sacrificing the entire season for an hour or two of “merry” on December 25th.
- Don’t overspend. Avoid using credit cards.
- Take your vitamins and get your flu shot. Who wants to be sick Christmas day?
- Pick and choose your Christmas activities. Guard your calendar.
- Get plenty of rest. (Yea, right!)
- Stay away from those bad carbs. And really watch your intake of good carbs.
- Plan your meals ahead of time, and shop on Tuesday mornings when the crowds are smaller. And by the way, you’ll save time and money if you start shopping now for Christmas 2019.
- Don’t bite when someone tries to serve up a debate on politics or religion at the dinner table. And certainly, don’t be the one who feeds on drama.
- Save money by giving homemade items. (By the way…you’ll still need to purchase…blah, blah, blah).
- Order online, but get free shipping.
- Don’t forget the deadline for getting cards and letters in the mail is… for packages… for overseas…
- Drink alcohol in moderation.
Eleven suggestions. Hmmm? I thought about deleting one, making it an even ten, but I couldn’t decide which tip to cut. Hey! Another thought? If I’ve overlooked one of your trusty tips, and you let me know, we’d have an even dozen.
It wouldn’t be much of a challenge for me to find a biblical story or verse of scripture to support each of my great tips. But, wouldn’t it be hypocritical of me to use God’s word to build a blog post based on “Tips for a Joy-filled Christmas” when (honestly) I’ve yet to sustain a commitment to more than one of the eleven suggestions on my list? Except that I abstain from alcohol, I would have blundered that one, too.
Most of what I’d have to offer in the suggestion department would be examples of how I’ve messed up. That’s a lot of writing for me…and a bunch of reading for you! So let’s not go there.
Instead, I’ll share a short promise. The promise is not actually mine. It’s found in God’s word.
In Isaiah 55:11 (NLT) God says:
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
So go ahead. Follow as many of those eleven tips as you will. Use them as a guide toward a “Merry Christmas,” but understand. They don’t come with the kind of guarantee we have in Isaiah 55:11. Have a strategy. Make plans for your spending, cooking and eating over the next few weeks. Give as much time as possible to family and friends. But look out for unexpected circumstances.
Read, study or meditate on something God said every day. Be sure it’s actually something God said in His word. If not, the promise in Isaiah is null and void. Then, don’t be too hard on yourself if you have days when you can’t seem to do much of anything on my list.
Most of all, don’t exchange the promise of a joy-filled Christmas for a “happy holiday.” I’m relying on God’s promise! I hope you will, too.
Wet Feet 