Quite apart from all the (unnecessary?) stress that the festive season brings, I’m sure we’re all aware that this time of year isn’t always very easy for everyone…
Locally in the last month, there have been at least three suicides or deaths under difficult circumstances and its no secret that suicide rates jump at this time of year as people struggle to cope with the weight of expectations and financial pressures. Poignant TV adverts don’t help when it comes to setting realistic expectations, and whilst we *know* in our heads that Christmas doesn’t have to be ‘perfect’ we might still somehow find ourselves falling into the trap of trying to make everything just right.
A teacher I spoke to recently told me she really doesn’t enjoy Christmas at all. As the conversation went on it transpired that her parents had always aspired to the ‘perfect Christmas Day’ and as a result, her younger self experienced Christmas as a stressful, fussy and difficult day, which has coloured her experience of the whole celebration.
And that, in the end, is what its meant to be: a celebration of God’s gift to humanity – a freely offered gift of love, acceptance and forgiveness. No batteries required.
In the midst of all our hectic preparations, let’s take the time to remind ourselves that sometimes the best parts of Christmas are the things we can’t wrap, or roast or photograph – rather they are the simple moments in each other’s company, a thoughtful comment, a kind act which can make all the difference to someone’s day.
On behalf of the Youth Chaplaincy team, we wish you a peaceful Christmas and a hope-filled 2016.
If you’d like to try a mindfulness approach to Christmas, you could try Blob Baubles as a means of reflecting and being aware of how you’re feeling…
Youth Chaplaincy 