Thrive During the Holidays!
READ Philippians Chapter 4
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God, and the peace which surpasses all understanding will guard your thoughts and minds through Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
As a therapist at Pitts & Associates who attempts to help depressed and grieving people get through the holidays, I was asked to speak to a group at Vestavia Hills Methodist Church on “Surviving the Holidays.” As I prepared my presentation, I realized that I too become rather anxious when thinking about the myriad of things that must be done in preparation for our family’s celebration of Chistmas.
The first time that I experienced that panicky, “Oh, no” feeling—“Here it all comes again. There’s absolutely too much to do, and I will never be ready,” –this year was toward the end of August and I was in Belk at the Galleria. They had put up a number of Christmas trees, decorated them, and dedicated an entire section of the store to Christmas. At that moment I resolved that this year would be different—that even though the Christmas decorations were in the stores long before Halloween, with God’s help I would embrace it, be thankful, and enjoy every day living in the moment.
In the Pitts & Associates Holiday Newsletter Dr. Bert Pitts offers a very helpful list of ways to not only survive but thrive during this holiday season. The one most meaningful to me reminds us to focus on the birth of our Savior and to remember that “holidays” mean holy days. Attend as many worship services as possible; read Scripture; pray more often; spend some of our holiday time making a plan about how we want to live a more Spiritual, more purposeful life, By focusing on Christ’s birth and following the instructions of Philippians 4:6-7, we find relief and solutions for our anxiety, depression, and grief.
PRAYER: Thank you, God, for the gift of Your Son whose life shows us The Way. You know each of us—our needs, our hurts, our stressors, our hopes. Renew our hearts and minds as we journey through the holidays. May we not only survive but thrive as we “put off the old” and “put on the new” growing in His likeness.
Jo Ann Huddleston, D.Min., L.P.C. – Wesley Forum Class
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