You probably saw the title Cushy Christmas and thought, “my Christmas is anything but Cushy, I’m exhausted already.” If you did, then you’re in the right place.

A question popped in my head recently as I was driving around town with a brain full of Christmas Craziness. I suddenly wondered how much of what I was focused on this time of year truly had to do with celebrating the birth of our Savior.

In a day and age when people are offended if you do or don't say "Merry Christmas", I pondered whether even that conflict was simply an attempt to put a band-aid on the deeper issue of how we express our faith, now and all year long. I don't know whether Jesus cares as much about our words as the heart behind them. If we are letting anger and resentment trickle in over these kinds of issues, then how are we truly glorifying God?

I want God to be glorified during this season and the rest of the year. However, I think it's easy for us to believe as Christians that this is “our” holiday. I often sense an attitude of, "Other than Easter, this is our time to shine.” We forget even in our “Merry Christmas” greeting that it’s for Christ to shine, not us. If we try to accomplish this by alienating others over any issue, whether it's our greetings or how to avoid spending too much time with our "unchristian" family, then it's more about us than about Him.

As believers, the goal of Christmas shouldn’t be about our comfort, but to show His powerful love in us.

I believe Christ is the definition of generosity, so I can't imagine that He would be disappointed in our giving this time of year. Yet, what are we really giving? The heart truly is the matter at hand. When we try and keep up with the pace of the season by running ourselves, spouses and children into the ground, we are giving little more than stress, frustration, anger, and intolerance to others. So much for peace, joy and love.

We often want to please or demonstrate our feelings towards others by giving them what they want, even if it's going to put us in jeopardy with our finances, health, etc. Our values and priorities seem to have a special loophole during these few weeks, yet the consequences seem to magnify. The very holiday we  look forward to every year since we were children becomes an overwhelming burden that we can't wait to have behind us....and each year the cycle continues.

It is so easy to let the feelings of others and their expectations of us become more important than pleasing God. We can't make everyone happy all the time, but when our heart is about love, joy and peace then we have given credit to our Savior and others will be influenced. Even if they don't get what they want for their flesh they may get what they need for their soul. The greatest gift we can give is Christ in us. If we are giving others less of our heart then maybe that's why they demand more of our time. Heart Quality vs. Flesh Quantity.

I’m in no way implying that we should stop giving presents to others as a way of expressing our love. I simply want to revaluate the heart to flesh ratio. Let’s not allow our hearts to follow the paved path of Christmases past. Let’s challenge them out of the cushiness they’ve known for so long and etch a new Christmas future into our loved ones lives. We are starting to realize the cushy life isn’t as effective as we hoped. Unless we operate from the heart then our Christianity is just another item to be checked from today’s to do list.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1

I often remind myself that if I want a “Merry” Christmas, I need to be more like Mary and less like Martha. I want to focus more on God and less on the endless tasks at hand. This is not easy for me, but I know with His help it’s an obtainable and worthwhile goal.

It’s alright if you forget the stocking stuffers are still in your trunk on Christmas morning, just don’t forget about Jesus.

Trying to control how others celebrate their Christmas won’t help things. We each have to operate out of our own hearts and stop trying to change others. When we have a better understanding of our own heart and how it can influence the ones we want to reach then there is much more peace for all. When I keep my eyes on Him and the goal of love, joy and peace, then my heart seems to stay in a better place. When I start to focus on things, fear, anger, justice and myself then I am missing out on the true gift of Christmas....The birth of a Savior that loves us beyond any love imaginable.

A Savior that loves in spite of the overwhelming knowledge He has of our weaknesses and mistakes. A Savior that was born only to give His life in torture and ridicule so our sins can be forgiven for eternity.

A Savior like that deserves a better birthday celebration than anything we can give, yet when we understand our hearts are all He wants why should we withhold any longer? It is no longer about us, but about Him when we can release the heart we gave Him the moment we decided to serve and worship Him for eternity.

Give the priceless gift of Christ this season, by allowing others to see Him work in you through peace love and joy.

Love always goes much farther than a lecture.

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:11-14

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

PEACE, JOY and LOVE

Julie