An Answer to the Holiday Stress and Holiday Blues
John Crosby
While most of us are celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas, many of us are struggling with what I’ll call the holiday blues or holiday stress. Nearly twenty-five years of ministry have taught me that one thing has the power to renew and restore our spirit of hope and joy. You may be expecting one of the classic church answers – Jesus, prayer, Scripture, giving, grace… While those are solid answers, I’ve seen people do some pretty foolish things in the name or midst of each of those. The one thing that changes everything is a grateful heart.
A grateful heart –
silences complaining, diffuses anger,
quells anxiety, softens harshness,
deflates pride, mutes gossip,
diminishes greed, feeds humility,
extinguishes lust, nurtures joy,
cultivates peace, ordains language,
births wisdom, redirects self-pity,
restores confidence, enables forgiveness,
refreshes hope, & renews strength.
My gratitude starts with the compassion and simplicity of the Gospel message – that I, while unworthy, got to choose to spend infinity in the absolute presence of God or in his absolute absence. There are no other options to complicate my decision. I simply trusted the Word of God, and made a decision. Thank you God.
I’m a blessed man. Beyond my salvation, the number of my blessings rivals the drops of water in the ocean. Living among the wealthiest people in the history of the world, fresh air & running water, great friends, good shoes, reasonable health, no one yet trying to cut off my head over my beliefs, a 26 year marriage to a beautiful woman, three young adult children who love me, modern technology, a pickup truck with a loyal dog in the back, adventurous parents, extended family, selective & edited memories, countless ministry opportunities… There is no way to create a comprehensive list. But when I’m intentional about considering what God has already given me, this list always overwhelms the urgency of my “must-have” and “must-do” lists. It centers and refocuses me. It keeps me from risking or overlooking what is most important to me by, as Solomon tagged, “chasing the wind”.
So I challenge you. Invest as much time considering your blessings as you do itemizing your menu and shopping lists. Genuinely express your gratitude to God and others before indulging in food, family, friends, and football. Let your attitude of gratitude redefine your “to-do” lists. Spend some time in Scripture looking at passages on gratitude, a grateful heart, and thanksgiving.
Serving others in need cultivates a grateful heart. Commit to doing so between now and the end of the year. Give meals to someone homeless. Volunteer in your church. Serve in a homeless shelter. Buy groceries or pay for services for a struggling family. Serve families with hospitalized children through a Ronald McDonald House or unwed mothers through the Living Vine. Help someone with a home or auto repair. Invite someone to share the holidays with your family. See the world through the eyes of someone less fortunate.
A grateful heart may not change your circumstances, but it will always change your perspective and your response to them.
John Crosby