Don't wait until you are sinking to reach for Jesus
How to survive – and thrive – during the holidays
Photo By: Flickr/B4bees
The holidays are a joyful time of the year but, for many, it’s the most stressful. The season catapults us into searching for that “perfect” gift for our loved one who seems to already “have everything” while dreading drama filled family gatherings. Sometimes we may feel like the “family Christmas” seen on Hallmark movies and in cleverly scripted commercials only exists on the TV screen. Yet, some are blessed enough to have that “perfect” Christmas with family and friends. No matter what your family gatherings are like one thing is for certain, Christmas and stress walk hand in hand through the pages of our calendar days.
However, let’s pause for a moment and take a look at how we can not only just survive the holidays but we can actually thrive during this time. I created the acronym PRAISE to help us remember how we can make the most of this cherished and blessed time of year.
P- Practice patience. Patience is something that is an absolutely necessity: in the checkout lines, searching for a parking space, patience with uncooperative family members or indecisive individuals, or just patience while driving on the highway. We also need to be patient with ourselves. Do not expect everything to get done in a single day. Enjoy the season – don’t rush it. When we are patient with others and, rather than letting out a few words when a car cuts you off or someone breaks line at the checkout, let’s commit to pray for that individual. Pray for them to be blessed, to know Jesus, and to experience the Savior during this holiday season.
R- Receive Jesus. It sounds simple. It sounds like something that is on a greeting card or a Facebook meme. But, in essence, we struggle with receiving Jesus during Christmas. Sometimes I think we are more concerned about placing straw in the manger or getting that “last room” at the Inn rather than allowing the Christ child to touch our hearts in such a way where we will never be the same. Receive Jesus in your life through prayer, reading the Bible, listening to what the saints say about this season, and just sitting for 15 minutes in the quiet and listening for the voice of God. It’s hard to hear the “still small voice” in the hustle and bustle of shopping carts and cash registers.
A- Available. Be available this Advent and Christmas season. I know it sounds a little ironic and crazy to think we can make ourselves available with all the decorating, Christmas pageants, shopping, planning, and cooking we need to do. However, we must make ourselves available to be used by Jesus and to see Jesus. I often think of the Bethlehem scene with everyone rushing around to get to the census and obey the law and going about daily life and how they missed Jesus. Let’s make an effort to not miss Jesus. Ask Jesus how you can be available to be of service to your family, your friends, your parish, the poor, the homeless, and those in need. Then, be available.
I- Invite others into your life by giving. When we give to the poor, when we minister to the homeless, when we share the gospel with those who “run in different circles” than we do then we are inviting them to have a part of our life – even if it is in that moment. When we live a life focused on God, seeking God, and searching for God in others, we will soon see God in others and then others will certainly see Him in us. It’s not about the “perfect” gift we buy because the “perfect gift” has already come, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid gently in a manger. There is no gift more perfect, more special, and more memorable than that one. That is the gift that changed the world and, if we let him, then we will change lives by allowing them to see Jesus in us.
S- Sacraments. Attend Mass and go to confession. By attending Mass and going to confession then we open ourselves up to the presence of the Lord and to the power of the Holy Spirit. We stop, in the noise and chaos of the time, and focus on the purpose for this time of year. We stop and focus on Jesus. When our eyes are on Jesus everything else seems so small.
E- Express Jesus through your attitude and actions. We must make an effort to ensure that “the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable and pleasing to you O Lord”. (Psalm 19:14) When a family member says something we do not like, respond in love and forgiveness. When someone seems to have a negative attitude about a gift or an event, respond with the love of Jesus and then pray for them. When someone is complaining about something, respond with love and mention something positive about that same thing.
It’s hard, but it is not impossible. Make an effort to focus on Jesus this holiday season and you will soon find yourself having the best Advent and Christmas season you have ever experienced.
About the Author
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a six time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
Amelia is a public relations writer for the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Fayette County, Tennessee. She also serves as the parish photographer at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church. She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
