“The Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit …” Unknown

This post may not end up in the book, but I couldn’t skip sharing it on my blog. I wish I had thought to write it sooner, but I was too busy. However, we still have a week to put “holy” into our season by living it every day until Christmas. Please add any holy habits you’re practicing to keep Jesus central in your life.  

Here’s what I’ve figured out so far … 

• Be quiet.

Around Christmas, there’s a reason we quietly hold flickering candles and sing under dimmed lights the song “Silent Night, Holy Night.” It’s symbolic of holiness on the evening Jesus was born. It’s also symbolic of our need to step outside the stores and away from the kitchen and quiet down. Our spirits desperately want quiet time with Him even if we don’t know it. Sometimes especially if we don’t know it because we’re always wondering “what’s wrong?” My sister-in-law and I talked about how we hadn’t taken time to sit still in front of our trees and watch the lights. I still haven’t, but I will tonight. 

• Be different.

Jesus’ birthday is about the Trinity, not the drama triangle – the one I learned about in psychology class. It’s easy when we’re together with family to fall back into old habits versus holy ones. The first time I heard the dynamics of the drama triangle, it explained so much about my painful family background even though it took me years to change and step away from the chaos. 

The triangle is made up of a victim who complains about how poorly life and people treat them. The persecutor creates the trouble. The rescuer/enabler tries hard to fix everyone and everything. If we’re playing along, we trade roles sometimes, but most of us have one role we stay in most of the time. However, none of them are holy roles. 

To keep our holiday sacred, we have to step away from the drama and think what different and healthy behavior we can put in the place of reacting, arguing, defending ourselves, explaining, talking too much, talking too loud, talking too little. Whatever our old habit is, stop it and replace it. 

• Be intentional. 

I can’t expect to slow down just because I want to. I have to be purposeful about my perspective, which may end up being my word for 2022. I shared a 5-minute inspirational talk with a networking group yesterday and read one of the definitions of perspective – the ability to understand what is important and what is not. 

Until I slow down enough to ponder what’s important and give that my attention, I’ll bustle right past holiness to wrap the next gift. 

There’s a lot to do just like every Christmas season, but I want holiness as a part of my season because it’s what makes everything else special and right. 

In This Together,
Kim

FYI: I’m blogging my book titled On The Other Side of Trying Hard: Healing, Happiness, and Holiness. Because the blog posts will eventually be an entire manuscript instead of stand-alone stories, some posts may leave you hanging. I hope you’ll hang in here with us anyway ‘cause a happy ending is coming. Each blog post title includes the chapter title first. The phrase in parentheses is one subheading within the chapter. I’d love to hear your reflections, questions, and suggestions. I’m over-the-top grateful you’re here.