Tis the season to be jolly . . . or maybe not? The Christmas Season can be a stressful time, especially if you’ve suffered the loss of a loved one, fighting a chronic disease, lost a job due to COVID, or fighting depression due to isolation. This has certainly been a trying year with no apparent end in sight. What can one do to lift one’s spirit when the world around us appears to be crumbling?
Here are six tips tips for surviving the holidays:
Keep things simple.
The Christmas season is typically our most expensive month of the year. If your budget like many has been negatively impacted, live within your means. Give simple gifts that are meaningful and reasonably inexpensive. A service gift like washing a person’s car, helping someone cleanup after Christmas, raking a yard, or a lovely poem written and framed for a loved one. You can also make home-baked goodies or crafts for those you love. Actions speak louder than expensive gifts.
Concentrate on a Bible verse each day.
Oh, how the Word of God can soothe our soul. This is a great time to read uplifting passages that reach into our souls. You can also do this with devotional books. Commit to reading a passage daily and concentrating on the verse that speaks to your heart. Write it down on a piece of paper and read it again and again throughout the day.
List three blessings daily.
It’s amazing how concentrating on our blessings in the middle of a storm can lift our spirits. There are always blessings in the middle of the storms in our lives. Gratitude can make a huge difference in overall attitude and happiness. Don’t allow a fallen tree affect the beautiful forest that is before you.
Take time for self-care.
Make daily exercise, adequate rest, moments of relaxation, and healthy nutrition a priority. All of these prevent depression. Laughter, singing, and dancing also lift our spirits. Some times we just need to turn off the news and watch a good Hallmark movie.
Maintain contact with loved ones.
Even if traveling and contact is inadvisable due to COVID situations and exposure, you can remain connected through phone calls, Facetime, and family zoom meetings. You can actually watch each other open gifts on zoom! Our immediate family has an official text group and we share constant messages, videos, pictures, and ideas throughout the week. At times these quick messages/photos remind us of what’s most important in our lives.
Reach out to those who are in need.
One of the best ways to lift your spirits is to lend a hand or resources to others who may be suffering financially or emotionally during this time. Making someone else’s day is a great way to boost your own morale. A kind word or short prayer can lift a person’s spirit in more ways than one.
Remember, God is still on His throne. He works all things for our good. Let Romans 8:28 be one of your verses to meditate on everyday.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)
God may be using this pandemic to bring our hearts and attention back to Him and to initiate a great revival to our land. We need this more than ever. What a great time to celebrate the greatest gift ever given to mankind—A SAVIOR BORN TO SAVE A DYING WORLD.
For Your Health,
Ginny
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