Is stress getting to you?

Christmas is a time where you have to spend time with people you don’t like; your family. There isn’t any family I’ve come across that has not been hurt by divorce and/or significant tension, arguments and even hatred. So each year we exercise the season of good will by being forced to spend time with people who remind us of the scars we have and have given.

Each year we argue about where we are having Christmas and with whom, we juggle what seems to be impossible expectations so that it goes beyond stressful and reaches the level of distressing. My parents divorced when I was in primary school so I’ve grown up with having Christmas constantly reminding me of my fractured family.

The stress and distress of Christmas reminds me of why we need Christmas. Not the food and presents but Jesus Christ who came into the chaos of our world to bring peace amongst us. His name is Immanuel which means “God with us.” If your family is fractured then turn to Immanuel who will come and be with you. He can heal your hurts, he can even help you forgive and be forgiven. He can bring reconciliation where there once was war. It isn’t a painless process. Forgiveness costs, it’s expensive, but it will bring healing and it will take the distress out of Christmas.

Call upon Immanuel to be with you and he will bring peace not only to your life but to your family. Distress will ease to stress, and stress will ease to calmness and calmness can develop into joy; the joy that being family can bring. Ask Jesus to be with you and you will have begun to de-stress Christmas. the Rev