A Mission-Minded Christmas: Part 3

A real turning point came for me when I changed the word “holiday” into “holy-day.” When I remember that Christmas is the day Jesus broke through the barrier that separates heaven and earth to create a bridge for us to have eternal life…

This inspiring article, written by Dawn Wilson, is used with permission from TrueWoman.com, an outreach of Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

From Holi-Dazed to Holy Days

By Dawn Wilson (via TrueWoman.com. Used with permission.)

My husband and I met for lunch to discuss all the events, shopping, gatherings, baking, decorating, and needs of the Christmas season. I think he observed me I think he observed me one day as my eyes glazed over while I looked at our packed holiday calendar, and he decided it was time for a major planning meeting in the back corner of Applebee’s—or perhaps he just wanted some barbeque ribs. Regardless, after the meeting my over-the-top “holi-daze” was gone.

I had lists and ideas and a firm budget. I had a step-by-step path to the “perfect” Christmas.

In the week that followed, what I didn’t have was the heart to go with it. There was still something missing. My emotions ranged from stress and anxiety to discontent and anger. I approached December sounding a bit like Paul Revere: “Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming! Get with the program, people!”

Part of my stress came from gift-buying. We have so much available in this country—an abundance of things to buy. We may feel pressured to find the perfect gift for a loved one or create a perfect meal. (Note to self: There is nothing perfect this side of heaven!) I’ve often longed for simpler days when children were thrilled to get a fresh orange in the toe of a Christmas stocking. And how refreshing it would be if we could be content to just be together—as my sweet Grandma Parks said, “That’s all the gift I need.”

When I sanctify Christmas in my heart,

I set it apart as holy and precious…

I look for opportunities to tell my granddaughters

about the reason for the season…

I gaze at the Nativity scene on my buffet

and weep that Jesus came to set me free.

A real turning point came for me when I changed the word “holiday” into “holy-day.”

When I remember that Christmas is the day Jesus broke through the barrier that separates heaven and earth to create a bridge for us to have eternal life, it doesn’t remove the busyness of the season, but it does restore perspective (Isa. 59:2; John 10:10; Rom. 5:1; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:5; Rom. 5:8). When I sanctify Christmas in my heart, I set it apart as holy and precious. I focus more on spiritual activities. I look for opportunities to tell my granddaughters about the reason for the season. I open my personal hymn book and read and sing the carols with fresh insight. I gaze at the Nativity scene on my buffet and weep that Jesus came to set me free.

Yes, Christmas is a time for family, yummy cookies, a gorgeous tree, caroling, and colorfully wrapped gifts, but it is also the time when all believers remember the Son who came in obedience to the Father so we could enjoy the blessing of adoption into the family of God. Christmas is all about Him, not us. Converting from holi-dazed to the blessings of the holy-day alters everything, because my heart is changed.

How about you? What stresses you the most during this time of year? How has God changed your perspective?

Note from Ann:

May each of us set this season apart as holy and precious; may we gaze the Nativity, and weep to know that Jesus came to set us free; and may we look for opportunities to share the true meaning of Christmas with friends, loved ones, and strangers.

A wonderful ministry highlight of 2009 was having the opportunity to meet Christian author and teacher Nancy Leigh DeMoss and interview about “The Mission-Minded Family” on Revive Our Hearts, a women’s ministry outreach of FamilyLife. These three radio broadcasts should air sometime in 2010.

Stay tuned . . .