“Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time”
…Unless… you’re not.
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”…
Unless… it isn’t.

We all want Christmas to be joyful, and exhilarating, and … perfect.
The problem is… sometimes… it’s not.
This Christmas and last more than usual.

We’re tired of worrying about the dangers of Covid-19.
We’re tired of product shortages.
We’re tired of people not being cautious.
We’re tired of people being too cautious.
We’re tired of politicians fighting about it.
We’re just tired.

And, fatigue leads to irritability.  Maybe you haven’t noticed it in yourself, but I’ll bet you’ve noticed it in others. Even people who usually seem to have been given my share of the fruit of the spirit, (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness and self-control,) even they are getting “snippy.” All of this “you’re getting on my last nerve” just leads to everyone feeling miserable.

No one wants to be the Grinch.
No one wants to say, “Christmas stinks this year.”
So, usually, we will just keep it to ourselves and smile pleasantly.  

The problem with that is you’re NOT keeping it to
yourself.
Your distress is sneaking out when you aren’t looking.

No one wants to be the Grinch.  But, more than we
realize, we’re turning a little bit green and furry.

I saw this pop out in a very unexpected place yesterday.  Someone from my hometown posted some highlights of the Morganton Christmas parade. I watched, hoping to see someone I know, or some familiar scenery.

It seemed that every third entry had a Grinch. Even CHURCH entries were featuring the Grinch over Jesus.  Now, that’s just wrong!  I even checked the town’s website to see if there was a “Grinch theme.”
There wasn’t.  It just came out.

Maybe people are just looking for an “acceptable” way of expressing their “grinchy” attitude.

During this troublesome time we need to PRACTICE
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Even when it doesn’t FEEL like it’s doing any good, PRACTICE throwing all your anxieties on him.

Then suddenly, when you’re not looking, you will
discover that Psalm 62:1-2 has taken hold of you.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Or as Dr. Suess might say, “Your heart will grow three sizes that day