I was disrespected this holiday season. I went out of my way to do what I thought was nice and appropriate and received a less than gracious response to my efforts. It genuinely hurt my feelings. I had to take a week or so to shake off the ill will that came about as result of this interaction. (Because I failed to take that initial ill thought captive.) But I did get over it.
Now, since it was a holiday issue, I could have chosen to be twice as upset as is customary when one receives a holiday “dissing.” You know about holiday insults, right? Your children aren’t invited or they are but your schedule wasn’t taken into consideration; you bought one gift but are expected to give something else; you bought a gift and one wasn’t bought for you; your kids didn’t get as nice a gift as someone else did; you are broke but the whole world is buying stuff and telling you about it; or you don’t “do” gifts but someone insists on getting your children something nice anyway and then it’s not even educational (the nerve!) The list goes on and on and we tell ourselves we’re entitled to be really angry over each slight because it is after all, Christmas.
But then what purpose would my deciding to fuss about how my “season” has been disrupted serve? How does a perceived insult to me really impact my ability to celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior? That’s a pretty easy question to answer- it doesn’t. Unless of course, I’ve forgotten that Christmas is about celebrating the birth of my Lord and Savior and instead decided that it was about honoring my husband, my children or me. Now, as I mentioned, it did take me about a week to get over being upset- so I’m not immune from putting the focus on “we” instead of He. But that’s not what I want to do. If I can’t remember that I’m celebrating God’s gift to all mankind because I am so stressed out about purchasing and paying for gifts and pouting in my room because I have to purchase a gift for someone who I don’t really even like and who isn’t going to appreciate it or because I’m so angry that someone isn’t coming to see my child in the Christmas play or scheduled their party at the same time as mine then something has gone seriously wrong in my spiritual life.
If it can’t be “Christmas” because I’m not going to be in the town I want to be in or am not able to purchase the gifts I want my children to have, then I have a mistaken idea of what “Christmas” is; or maybe I don’t and I need to really think about what Christmas in our society has become. Think about it. If all I wanted to do for Christmas was celebrate God’s wondrous gift then nothing could stop me from doing that- not poverty, mean people, imprisonment even! Unless you are in a coma, you can always celebrate the birth of Christ. But that’s not all we want to do. We want to tell ourselves that we can celebrate God’s greatest gift AND have the parties, make the crafts, buy the gifts, deck the halls and not get off track. Maybe we can, but it’s going to take a lot of effort. You can’t just throw ten times the amount of normal activity (and spending) into your life and expect not to have some stress.
So if you find yourself getting angry with your in-laws, shouting at your spouse and honking at the car that just cut you off you may need to drop a few things from your schedule and get back to the basics. Just remember when you start dropping things out of your life not to start with God. Don’t stop having times of prayer and study. Don’t stop asking God his opinion on how you should handle difficult situations in your life. Don’t forget that your purpose here is to worship Him. Because dear friends, nothing else matters. It may seem like other things are very important, but do not be deceived. Nothing else matters- only your relationship with your Lord and Savior.
This week we celebrate a gift of incomprehensible value. It’s a gift that was chosen especially for us and was completely undeserved. Let’s show our gratitude to the Giver by remembering the instructions that came with His gift. Here are just a few that I try to keep in focus amidst all the worldly distractions-
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; (Matthew 6:33)
But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. (Matthew 6:20) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… (Matthew 5:44)
Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" "I tell you, not as many as seven," Jesus said to him, "but 70 times seven… (Matthew 18:21-22)
As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and don't turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (Matthew 5:40-42) Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)
