As Christmas draws near I increasingly find myself excited for some time out, yet puzzled as to where this year went. I asked myself the other day, what has actually been achieved?
Seemed like the pandemic was a gift that kept giving against our will for the whole year. Really it was the present that no one wants to receive from their secret santa.
As I continued to ponder this, I felt the negative spiral of doom engulf me. Here comes a season to be joyful and merry yet here I am being negative Nolly about the year we have had.
Reminders
So instead, now when I find myself caught in the stress leading up to this season, I have had to give myself a few Christmas reminders that I thought would be good for all of us.
Whilst pandemic was not on my wish list last year (and certainly is not this coming year either), there are a few gifts that it did bring which we should remember. So instead of being the grinch of Christmas remember this:
#1 Time is one of the most valuable assets on this planet. We were gifted time, so much time with loved ones this year. Whether that be sitting at home together or facetiming those afar. We were given time to spend with those nearest and dearest to us.
#2 Rest. This year for some, has been a time of rest, and as we enter a holiday season, remember that being able to rest and be restored from the year that has been is important for the year that is coming.
Lockdowns has been a way for us all to learn how to rest and be renewed by time to spend in God’s presence. Gone were the excuses we had such as “I don’t have time to rest’; ‘I’m so busy’; ‘I don’t have time to read my bible everyday.’ Take the lessons of rest and time management into the new year.
#3 Lockdowns have given us a chance to upskill, whether that be sourdough bread (which I hope is on many Christmas tables this year), to renovation projects, many have had the chance to learn something new or start a new hobby.
#4 The season of Christmas is where we get to celebrate the greatest gift to humanity- Christ. So as we enter this season, let us be reminded that even though a pandemic was not on our list, we have already been given the greatest gift through the birth of Jesus on Christmas day a long time ago. A gift which continues to give today and everyday.
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year everyone. And don’t let the pandemic this year has been, rob you of your joy for this season!