When you don't feel in the Christmas Spirit

It’s here...December 1st...the start of the Christmas Season.  Decorations are up.  Christmas music is playing in every store and on every radio station.  People are out sharing good cheer and buying presents.  There is an extra sense of joy in the air.  But what if you don’t feel that joy?  What if you are struggling this Christmas season?  Maybe you are unable to get together with the ones you love.  Or you have health issues that are causing you worry and concern.  Maybe money is tight and you have no idea where the money will come to buy the Christmas presents.  Or maybe you are just uncertain what this Christmas season will bring.  

Let me tell you dear friends, you are not alone.  Right now I am struggling with feeling the joy of Christmas.  I am usually so excited about the Christmas season, but this year I am not.  As I sit and reflect why, I realize that I am focusing on the worldly things about Christmas.  Wondering who will be sitting at my table on Christmas day?  Struggling with what to buy for people, because it has become a ritual of the season.  Worrying about the everyday details for life.  In this reflection, I realize that I have taken my eyes off the real reason for Christmas.  The birth of Jesus Christ.  I have allowed the worldly things to crowd out my joy of Jesus’s birth.  I have chosen to focus on my struggles and  not the joy that Jesus’s birth brings.  
I want to change my mindset.  No, I NEED to change my mindset.  I need to choose the joy of the season, not the stress.  So how do I do this?  First, I need to find a daily Advent or Christmas reading.  Something that will get me into scripture to remind me of the Christmas story.  I need to spend time seeking God’s words to fill me with all the beautiful details He put in place to show me how much He loved me.  Next I need to spend time in prayer asking God to return to me the joy of His birth.  Then,  I need to choose to fill my day with Christ focused Christmas songs.  Songs that point to Christ's birth.  Finally,  I need to be real with my friends.  I need to tell them my struggles so they can pray for me.  This isn’t easy for me, but I know that when I do, it will help my journey to joy begin. 
For all my friends who are struggling this holiday season.  I hope you will choose to change your mindset and choose to focus on the joy the birth of Christ brings.  I know that some days will be easier than others.  But today, at this moment, let’s all choose the joy of Christ.  And together we will be filled with the joy of the birth of Christ.

​Dear Lord,  we acknowledge that we are struggling this Christmas season.  We know that Christmas is not about the decorations, gifts, and stuff.  Help us to refocus our eyes on the true meaning of Christmas...your birth.  Help us to find time to meet with You and walk the journey of your birth.  Help us to surround ourselves with music and people that help to point to reason for the season...You.  Help us be real with our friends so they can pray for us.  Lord, help us to choose the joy of You today, tomorrow, and every day.  We know that we will have good and bad days.  On those bad days, give us an extra measure of You so that we will continue to choose the joy of your birth...the joy of YOU.  Amen.