“SURVIVING OR THRIVING THIS CHRISTMAS?”
by Rev. Dr. Terry L. Irish, Chaplain
PWN - December 2008
Mortgages defaulting; banks failing; 401ks in the tank; retirement funds losing value, putting plans to retire on hold; fires destroying a lifetime of work in the blink of an eye, the dream home gone in a cloud of smoke; jobs lost, and an economic climate that has people talking about The Great Depression of ‘29. For most of us, these are words and images we never thought we would hear or see in our lifetime, but we have heard and seen them in
2008.
As December begins, some may be tempted to echo the words of that historian and great curmudgeon of
Christmases past and present, Ebenezer Scrooge: “Baaaaaa, humbug!” Since we are surrounded by such negativity, why not just give up and go with that dark and foreboding attitude that seems to be all around us this year? After all, there is a lot of very bad news out there, right?
Would it surprise you to know that nearly 3 millennia ago, there was also a lot of bad news and negative thinking going on? People were discouraged, depressed and things looked very bleak. In the midst of all the “doom and gloom” of their day, these people really needed some good news! Isaiah prophesied that great days were coming with these words: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…” (Is. 9:2, 6, NIV)
The doom and gloom of the ancient world would vanish in the glow of “a great light” -- “the light of the world” – Jesus Christ (John 8:12, 9:5). The light, hope, peace and joy He brought to the world more than two thousand years ago is still with us. He is still changing lives today.
Knowing that I am quite literally “preaching to the choir” in this article, let me offer you a few Principles for Thriving this Christmas:
Principle #1: Remember that you cannot spend your way out of the blues. It’s December, but January is coming, and with it all the bills from the credit card purchases made in a vain effort to feel better. Charging things to have them at Christmas will not make your Christmas that much brighter, but it will definitely make your 2009 much darker, especially if you can’t afford to pay off those credit card bills when they show up in January.
Principle #2: Before you go shopping, set a limit on how much you are going to spend on each person. Then when you do go shopping, use cash instead of credit cards. It’s a lot easier to control your spending when you are using green (cash) than when you are laying down the plastic, right? Right! I am not a prophet, but I can tell you this for certain: If you spent only the cash you can afford in December, you will look forward to the mail in
January with a much different attitude.
Principle #3: Simplify your life and your celebration. If this has been a lean year for you financially, allow your Christmas holiday plans to be more modest too. If you don’t want to send out Christmas cards this year – don’t. Allow the traditions serve you, not the other way around. If you hoped to vacation at Disneyworld but the money isn’t there, go to Disneyland instead. After all, it will be much more cost-effective, and it’s practically in our own back yard!
Principle #4: Finally, keep your eyes on the Prize. As a high school varsity football coach for nine seasons, focusing primarily on Special Teams, I can tell you that the Number One reason my punters and place kickers got in trouble was because they took their eyes off the football at some point. For us as CHRISTians, Christmas marks the time we celebrate the greatest Gift ever given to our world – the Gift of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of the world. So whatever else you do this year, keep your eyes on the real Prize – JESUS CHRIST. He is the reason we have this season, so let’s celebrate, knowing and believing that ….. …
...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ( Phil. 1:6, NIV)
