How to conquer the Christmas "let down".

[Dawn Sneden]

Q - How do I get over the "blues" at Christmas?

Christmas can be a high-pressure situation. There is so much to be done in a short period of time. I’m guessing your “to-do” list for December looks something like this:

 Communicate with family to decide on party dates
 Figure out who is bringing what to the party
 Determine who gets who a gift
 Gather all the family lists of wants
 Browse through the sale flyers, looking for the best deals
 Figure out what you are getting the teachers this year
 Unpack the Christmas decorations
 Put up the Christmas decorations
 Assemble a fake tree or purchase a real one; buy more
lights; decorate it
 Browse through your pantry to begin making your holiday
grocery lists
 Shop for your gifts
 Decide what charity to support and purchase Angel Tree gifts
 Wrap presents; Hide presents
 Go to Christmas concerts/recitals
 Bake
 Cook
 Clean
 Buy a new Christmas outfit
 A million other things

After all that work, we hope our kids love their gifts and the happy, mellow feeling on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day lasts. But it doesn’t. All the fun and gift-giving didn’t really satisfy. If you are like me and a thousand other mothers, among all of our list-making activities we sometimes forget to concentrate on the one true Gift that started Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ! Without celebrating Him during the Christmas season, we are not truly satisfied. Nothing can bring greater joy than these presents: seeing someone reach out to Jesus for the first time; or knowing that the anonymous gift you left on someone’s front door will bless them more than the “gotta have” toy you bought your child; or really listening to the story of Christmas and understanding the humble beginnings of Jesus; or worshipping Him with other believers at a candlelight service.

This year, if you sense that the presents are not going to be enough, stop what you are doing, gaze at the nativity scene, and remember the one true Gift from God – our Savior and Lord, Jesus. Then be ready to help your children experience the “presents” that satisfy.