The Heart of Christmas, Caring for Your Loved One

 What comes to mind when you think upon Christmas?  Does your memory conjure up images of snow, presents under the tree, and lots of good food? I’m sure that it does.  But if you are busy caring for an ill loved one, thoughts of preparing for the Christmas celebrations may cause you to feel stressed and worried.  

You’re probably asking yourself questions such as these; “When will I find extra time to shop for presents, or bake Christmas cookies, not to mention throwing up at least a few decorations?”  I’m here to remind to you today that Christmas shouldn’t produce these feelings of fear and or dread.  If it does we need to remind ourselves that our priorities are somewhat out of alignment.  Lets take a deep breath and slow down for a moment.  Nothing else is more important than our relationship with Christ and that of our loved ones.  If we stress and fret over the many little to-do’s, we inadvertently chip away and lose precious time in these two vital areas of relationship!

Do you remember a certain fad from years ago? The one that most every Christian teen wore around their wrist or on their person in some way shape or form?  I’m sure you do.  It was the WWJD fad.  Do you remember what the acronym stands for?  It cautions the observer to stop and think, “What Would Jesus Do”?  If Jesus were in our shoes,  how would He respond in this given situation?

I still own a long key chain with these letters on it.  I continue to practice asking myself how Jesus would respond in my personal situations.  For a moment, lets stop and think about how the Lord would have us approach the celebration of His birth, particularly as it applies to the responsibility of caring for another.  The greatest gift that we can give to each other is our time, love and patience.  It’s nice that we exchange gifts with one another, and equally nice to have presents under the tree.  But remember God loves those who give out of a happy heart.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV)

If we are under pressure and give of either our time or in a monetary way and we do it grudgingly, we undermine the heart and reason for giving.  Our families and particularly the loved ones that we are caring for watch us closely.  Everything that we do or say speaks volumes to them.  We want the life and essence of Christ to be seen in our own lives before them.  There are times when we ourselves may not even be trying to make a celebration special other than providing extra love, when all of the sudden we begin to realize that the Lord is busy taking care of all of the other smaller details! 

There are common sense ways that can help us to accomplish a bit more during the holidays as well.  Before last minute tasks creep up on you, take a moment to sit and jot down a list of things you need to do or prepare at least a few weeks in advance.  I like to grab my small notebook and very simply place the current date in the far right hand corner.  I then proceed to list the things that I need to do that given day in a bullet fashion down the center of the paper. Some do this on a weekly basis, but I have found for myself that even taking it day by day and writing the items down helps tremendously.  As I cross off what I’ve accomplished, it serves to remind me that I am getting done what needs to be done each day and that I am making a difference!

If you are caring for an elderly loved one, remember to treat them with the respect that they deserve.  I love how the webmaster of  “The Interactive Bible Site” words it;

Nature herself teaches us that age demands dignity and honor. The older the redwoods, the more majestic. The older wines and cheeses are, the more they are praised and honored for taste. Should it not hold true that the older a man, the more he is to be appreciated by others? I am convinced that young people are missing one of the greatest opportunities available when they do not get to know the elderly and associate with them. All too soon these towering pillars of faith and wisdom will pass from our midst and the loss will be tremendous.

Honoring and respecting our elderly is actually another way that we display our reverence for and to the Lord.

"Show your fear of God by standing up in the presence of elderly people and showing respect for the aged. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:32 NIV)

If we can keep these basic truths in our hearts, the Lord will honor our efforts in every way. We must remind ourselves on a daily basis of those things that truly should take precedence in our lives. What actions should I take this day that will please my Heavenly Father both at Christmas time and the days that follow? I want to close this article by leaving you with one more helpful acronym, and here it is; 

KISS - Muwah!  A big KISS that stands for;

“Keep It Simple Sweetie”!  Don’t stress yourself out this year!  Remember the Lord is with you if you’ve placed your trust in Him. 

Love the Lord and those around you each and every day, for this is the HEART of CHRISTMAS.