Holiday Cheer?

by Brandon Jubar

My shoulders are tense.
I have a splitting headache.
My lunch isn't sitting well.
I feel totally stressed.

It must be the holiday season.

This is supposed to by a joyous time of year. The four weeks of Advent allow us to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord. We should be thoughtful, prayerful, and reflective... but happy, too!

Yet as I talk to family and friends, I find one common theme: stress

During this time of year there are so many things to do that we tend to get caught up in the race. Rush here, go there, see such-and-such, call so-and-so, do this and that...

Whew! My heart rate is going up just writing this!

But when I really stop to think about it, it's not a whole lot different than other times of the year. The big difference is that the "stuff" I'm doing revolves around other people.

We're buying gifts to give.
We're sending cards and email to people we haven't talked to in ages.
We're calling old friends whom we've lost touch with.
We're visiting with family and friends.

All of these things involve the feelings of others. And the fact is, we truly care about them.

When I'm busy doing my own things, it's actually a lot easier to say, "You know... if it doesn't get done this week, no one's gonna get hurt." I can reschedule or put things off in order to relieve my stress.

I realize that Advent is about preparing ourselves. But so much of being a Christian involves the community -- our families and friends -- that almost by default, Advent is also about caring for others.

So if that creates some added stress, so be it. I don't know about you, but I know my family and friends are definitely worth it.

Peace,
~Brandon