Family Challenges

Blue Christmas?

I once commissioned a freelance graphic artist to design some Christmasy illustrations for a series of mailings. He promised same-day turnaround. Things started out well, but every time I dropped by his office to check his progress, I noticed there was less and less in the large bottle of wine next to his desk.

By the end of the day, when I was anxiously waiting for the last of the illustrations to be done, the bottle was about empty and the illustration on his drawing board was a noose!

"Erroll, what the heck is this?" I cried.

"It's reality, man," said the artist.

For some people a depressing Christmas is "reality, man." And the worst thing you can do to yourself (or your loved ones, if they're the one depressed) is to demand you lighten up, cheer up, snap out of it. Jesus did come to save us -- but he comes to save us as we are, not as society says we ought to be. He is close to the downhearted, not just those who are upbeat.

Here are three tips if you're feeling the Christmas blues:

1. Don't deny it. You'll just feel worse if you expect that this "has to be the perfect Christmas" (meaning merry and bright). You'll end up taking it out on the kids and feel even worse about yourself.

2. Remember the acronym HALT. Don't let yourself get too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. In this season of merry making, keep your own balance and don't overdo or underdo.

3. Turn to God, who is light in the darkness. At this darkest time of year, the light of Christ was born. Have faith that even though you stumble, you are safe in the hands of God who loves you.

 

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