How to Get Through Holidaze

Wisdom from nine-year-old Johnny

The hustle and bustle of this season may look different for most of us; however, the pressures of the holidays may still exist.

Several years ago, I came upon this list of how to get through the holiday season thriving, not just surviving, the activities and extra duties that are part of Christmastime. Nine-year-old Johnny made some compelling (and truthful) observations and offered several tips to consider:

1. Adults get cranky when they get too busy. Ask for help. People like to help.
2. Don’t get uptight. Try to stay calm as much as you can.
3. If you get cold, just bundle up. Then you’ll like snow.
4. Be grateful.
5. If there’s too much cooking to do, get rid of the olives and the salad. But, not the turkey.
6. Think about God.
7. Help people.
8. Give people presents from their favorite store and get a gift receipt. It’s so exciting to see if people like the presents you bought for them! So, in case, they don’t like your gift, they can just return it and find something they DO like.
9. If you’re really too busy, don’t get a tree. That will make a huge difference!

Johnny was right about adults getting “cranky” when faced with all those holiday tasks. Sometimes I forget until I’m deep into the grouch persona. Johnny offers the remedy in Tip #2—Ask for help.

Am I the only one who has a difficult time asking for help? For most of my life, I desperately struggled with reaching out for assistance. I kept trying to prove I could do it all and all by myself. Pride keeps us from seeking and accepting help. It also keeps us stuck in misery—and this goes beyond setting up the Christmas tree! It leaks out into the way we handle all of the demands of life.

And, yes, people will answer your requests for help. Try it!

There isn’t much I can offer in the suggestion to bundle up—I think it might just be me—but winter weather is definitely for the birds, but not this California chick! We have been blessed with the late summer-like fall weather until today! We woke up to a dusting of tiny snowflakes. I’ll not complain. Instead, I will strive to be grateful.

And, not just grateful for the weather—but as the Word tells us—give thanks to God in all things! (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Why? Because gratitude brings about a heart and mindset change where we can rise above the world’s clatter. Gratitude brings peace to your soul.

The best part of Johnny’s list? Think about Jesus whose birth we celebrate at this time of year. Our #takebackyourlifegroup is reading through the Gospel of Luke. Join us! It will make your heart full!

It’s the giving season; a time to help others. Reach out to those who are alone, who struggle with sadness and depression; those who have had a loss this year, and those who may be in financial hardship. This year has been tough on all of us; some have suffered so much loss in so many ways.

This season take little Johnny’s sweet advice—get out of overwhelm, think about God, and help others.

And, if you need help, don’t forget to reach out. Don’t be alone in the stress, loneliness, or uncertainty of this unusual holiday season.

If you haven’t yet downloaded your complimentary copy of “Overcoming the Impossible: How to Live Your Faith in Troubling Times” it’s a helpful guide to navigating through to the other side. Click Right Here.