Don’t Let Distractions At Christmas Take Over The Holiday

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With the kids jingle belling, and everyone telling you, ‘Be of good cheer!’ It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” This song captures the nostalgic and magical feeling I get around Christmas. As a child, Christmas just happened around me, and I was there for the ride. Little did I know, Christmas doesn’t just happen. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends are working hard in the background to make it happen. As an adult, “Christmas magic” has made way for logistics, budgets, and stress. If I’m not careful, Christmas joy and its real meaning are apt to be destroyed by all the distractions at Christmas! Anyone else?

What Distractions At Christmas?

My hope each year is to make Christmas a purposeful time to enjoy my family, create memories, enjoy traditions, and spend focused time on the best gift, Jesus Christ. I don’t think I’m trying to do too much, but then the distractions creep in. Suddenly, December feels like a mad dash to the new year. Everything’s a blur, and I feel as if I missed everything. In the end, I think I get tripped up by the same five distractions.

Distractions At Christmas #1: Comparison

I’m finally at the point in my life in which others’ opinions mean very little to me. (A big shout-out to my 40’s!) I’m teachable, but I can spot unwarranted criticism and a mean-spirited remark from a mile away. I don’t bother with those things.

In addition, I’ve never been at the top of my social class. I have always had what I needed and never expected more. In general, I don’t get particularly worked up about having less than someone else.

But then Christmas…

Comparison does so much damage whether it’s to a marriage, friendship, family, or even ourselves. And Christmas makes comparison, and eventually jealousy, all too easy. If I spend too much time looking at what other people’s Christmases look like, I get easily pulled in. Some people have fancy trips and excursions, big family gatherings with their like-minded relatives, beautiful decorations, or large homes in which to host beautiful parties. It’s easy to feel like I’m letting my kids down and to be disappointed in what I have.

Notice I didn’t say that it was O.K. to think this way, but it can happen if we take our eyes off of what’s important and allow covetousness to creep in.

Distractions At Christmas #2: Gifts

Is It Enough?

From my background as an only child, Christmas always meant gifts. All. The. Gifts. If I had even looked at something at the store, you could bet it would be under the tree or in my stocking on December 25.

Currently, I have five children and am a homemaker. Meanwhile, my husband is a pastor at a small rural church and is a volunteer firefighter. Inevitably, my children have a different Christmas morning experience than I did as a kid (especially as the dollar stretches less and less). That makes me wonder if I’ve given them enough some years. The answer, of course, is always “yes.” They’re thrilled to receive presents, and usually can’t think of too much they want, anyway. That doesn’t always stop the unwarranted guilt, though.

Are They The Right Gifts?

So, maybe I can rest in the knowledge that my kids don’t feel like I’m depriving them. That should allow me to be less distracted by the gifts, but it doesn’t. Another concern comes to mind because of course it does… “Is this what (s)he really wants?” I also get nervous that one child will feel less loved than the others based 100% on the gifts I purchased. You can say it. That’s stupid!

Sure, gifts are a part of how we celebrate Christmas, but worry and anxiety over them is certainly a sign that I’m making too much of them. From the looks on some folks’ faces at stores in late December, I’d say I’m not the only on fretting over gifts, though.

Distractions At Christmas #3: Money, Money, Money

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we didn’t need money or just always had enough? I’m still trying to figure out how to be independently wealthy with no discernable skills or talents. It’s not going well.

Money issues can hurt marriages and lead to a lifetime of struggle. Therefore, I do for Christmas what I do all year with the rest of our money. I create a budget. It’s wise to approach Christmas with a money plan, but when has money ever not been a distraction in life?

Questions about overspending and if gifts, activities, and events are worth it become the norm when money grows into a distraction at Christmas. Overconcern with finances can make Christmas another line item on the budget rather than a Christ-centered holiday meant to bring family closer to each other and the Lord.

Distractions At Christmas #4: Expectations

Expectations come from everywhere. Children definitely have expectations for Christmas. Our spouses know what they want Christmas to look like. Interestingly enough, extended family usually has ideas for your plans, as well. Trying to please everyone can be an unwelcome task, and honestly, a losing battle. No one will have Christmas exactly their way. This isn’t Burger King, after all.

The worst source of unreasonable expectations, though, can be ourselves. If you’re looking to create the perfect Christmas, then you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Not to mention, you’ll spend the entire Christmas season running around trying to make the impossible happen. It’s a ridiculous place to put our focus. Who said Christmas has to be perfect? Who even decides what makes Christmas perfect? It’s a nasty mindset to fall into, and so much focus on performing Christmas truly distracts from actual Christmas.

Distractions At Christmas #5: Sadness

Christians aren’t always happy. Shocker, I know. Some of us battle depression or deal with extended periods of grief. Let’s be honest, is there a season more triggering for sadness and similar emotions than Christmas? We miss the loved ones we have lost over the years, long for the simpler times of our youth, feel excluded from the festivities others are having, get overwhelmed by stress, and sometimes just feel lonely. For such a happy time, Christmas can feel like a bummer.

There is so much to be thankful for and to praise God for at Christmas, but our sadness can distract us from Him and the traditions we’ve built with our families. When all we can feel is negative, the joys of Christmas are lost to us.

What Are We Distracted From?

Shopping for presents, baking cookies, attending parties, and busying ourselves with Christmas activity isn’t inherently problematic. There’s something comforting about participating in these traditions every year. On the other hand, anything we do for Christmas can become a problem if it distracts us from the true meaning of Christmas. Adding to the problem, of course, is when the distraction becomes sin (e.g., covetousness) or leads to legitimate mental or emotional distress. Christmas, when we stay focused on its meaning, should only add to our joy and draw us closer to Jesus and further away from the world.

The Real Christmas

Jesus’ birth is why we celebrate Christmas, right? Well, yes, but also no. Let me ask you a question. Would we celebrate Jesus’ birth if He died on the cross and then stayed dead? Furthermore, would the miracle of the virgin birth mean nearly as much to us if Jesus came here to be our Lord, but ultimately, did not become our Savior? Of course not! Christians celebrate Christmas because of Easter!

That baby in the manger, as cute as He was, would grow up to die for our sins. He would grow into the only man who could save us, and He would do it willingly. Jesus faced shame, torture, heartbreak, and a violent death on the cross for us. And His miraculous birth is where His plan began to take shape on Earth. We celebrate Christmas because of what was to follow.

Final Thought

We face real distractions at Christmas, and the temptation to focus our energy on lesser things can be strong. However, if we remember why Christmas even exists to begin with, we have all we need to face those distractions and move past them.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)

“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

Hebrews 10:4-7 (ESV)

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

1 Timothy 1:15

What distracts you from the joy and true meaning of Christmas?

Image courtesy of Hert Niks via Unsplash.