Overcoming Christmas Stress
Luke 10:38-42
Whether you like it our not, whether you are prepared or not, the Christmas Season is upon us! This past Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, is the known as the busiest shopping day of the year. I overheard one woman on Friday say that she had left home at 4:30 A.M. to get her day started at WALMART. Ladies you need to know that it is a scientific fact that shopping is more stressful on men than it is on women. According to a report in “The Oregonian,” British psychologist David Lewis found proof that shopping is hazardous to men’s health. Testing volunteer’s ages 22-79 by sending them out Christmas shopping, he recorded blood pressure rates that “you’d expect to see in a fighter pilot going into combat.” In the same test, only one in four women showed any significant signs of stress from shopping.
“A few days before Christmas two men in Florida decided to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. While the men were out sailing a terrible storm arose and they had great difficulty keeping their boat under control as they maneuvered their way back to land their boat got grounded on a sandbar. And they had to jump overboard and they had to push with all their might trying to get the boat into deeper water. And as they did the wind was blowing terribly, the waves were rushing upon them and they wre soaking wet and knee deep in mud. And one of the guys looked at his buddy and said, ‘You know it sure beats Christmas shopping though.’ ”
[Aaron Burgess. “Are You Discouraged At Christmas.” Sermon on Proverbs 18:14 - www. SermonCentral.]
But seriously what should be the greatest season of the year, which should bring us joy and warm our hearts, instead often brings stress and heartburn, headaches and depression. The stress associated with the Christmas Holidays often makes what should be the most wonderful season of the year a miserable mess. In fact I would not be at the least surprised if a few of you said that you were actually dreading instead of looking forward to the days leading up to the Christmas.
The stress that plagues people at this time of the year are rooted in three basic sources; TIME (getting everything done), MONEY (paying for it) and EMOTIONS (conflict with family and past painful memories that resurface).
The Seven Irrevocable Laws Of The Christmas Holiday’s.
1. The time that you spend find a parking space is inversely proportional to the amount of time you have to spend shopping.
2. The other check-out line always moves faster – if you don’t believe me, change lines and see what happens.
3. Beware of the three most frightening words – Some Assembly Required. Be aware that unassembled toys take three times as long to assemble as they say, because the guy who wrote the instructions speaks 3 languages English not being one of them. And while their will always be at least one missing part, there will always be a pile of nuts and bolts and washers left over.
4. The three most often overlooked words are – Batteries Not Included. Be aware
that toys that require batteries seldom if
ever come with them.
5. When you return to the store to buy the gift that your husband, wife or child showed you the previous day, it is gone and they will not be receiving any more.
6. If you hear a loud crash in the living room, it is highly probable that your Christmas tree is probably lying on its side. (We once had this happen to us three times in one season until I discovered the tree had a crooked trunk and nailed it to the floor).
7. If your toilet is ever going to break or your sink plug up it will be when at everyone is at your house celebrating.
If you stop to think about it stress is nothing new at Christmas. The events surrounding the very first Christmas were filled with almost unimaginable stress.
Angels start showing up, scaring the living daylights out of people. Mary is pregnant out of wedlock. Joseph, Mary’s husband to be, wants to quietly break-off the marriage. Joseph is told that Mary is carrying the Son of God and it is up to him to care for them. Joseph, along with every other head of a household, is compelled by law to return to the city of his birth for the census. Joseph finds himself on the road with a pregnant woman; no rest stops, no restaurants, no comforts. I doubt very seriously that Mary was in a very good mood by the time they arrived in Bethlehem. When they finally arrive at Bethlehem Joseph discovers there are no vacancies and he is going to have to tell his pregnant wife that they are going to stay in a barn. I want to submit that there was a lot of stress associated with the first Christmas!
I want to direct our attention for a few moments this morning to a story recorded in Luke 10:38-42. It may seem to be an unusual choice to introduce a Christmas Series because it does not contain the Christmas Story, it does however deal with stress.
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. (39) And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. (40) But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." (41) And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. (42) "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (NKJV)
Poor Martha understood what stress was, rushing around trying to get everything ready – after all Jesus was in her house. Martha surely represents every person who is so worked up about getting everything done that needs to be done so that they can “enjoy Christmas.”
Stress can result from anything that:
□ Annoys you.
□ Threatens you.
□ Worries you.
□ Hurries you.
□ Angers you.
□ Frustrates you.
Some of the symptoms of stress are:
• Frequent headaches.
• Irregular heartbeats.
• Getting dizzy or light headed.
• Indigestion or nausea.
• Difficulty failing or staying asleep.
• Waking up tired.
• Anger or irritability.
I think we can safely say that Martha was
familiar with these.
I think that we can see some of the traits of the Stress-Prone in the life of Martha. Perhaps you see some of these characteristics reflected in your own life.
1. Plans day unrealistically
2. Always in a hurry
3. Makes no plan for relaxation
4. Feels guilty about doing anything other than work
5. Sees unforeseen problem as a setback or disaster
6. Is always thinking about several other things when working. (Just like some of you are planning your weeks itinerary while you try to look like your paying attention to this message)
7. Feels the need to be recognized and overextends themselves because of this.
[Author unknown. - www.bible.org/illus/s/s-189.htm]
That sure sounds like Martha does it sound like you?
In today’s text we will see four simple principles for overcoming Holiday stress.
How Too Overcome Holiday Stress
1.Set Realistic Expectations for Yourself.
One translation of verse forty reads, “Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” That sure sounds like our lives sometimes. Like Martha we can get so distracted by what we consider the many necessary things that we miss the point. By focusing on those things of lesser importance we miss what is the most important.
Notice what Jesus tells Martha in verse forty-two, “Only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better.” What Martha had chosen was not bad. All the things that she was doing were good, but not all things she was doing were necessary. Perhaps all of the preparations you have planned for Christmas are good, but are they all necessary? The thing about Martha’s predicament is that no one had assigned her all these duties, she was the one who had decided what “had to be done.” If she had too much to do, it was not simply because her sister Mary was not helping her, perhaps it was because her plans were too elaborate.
Jesus told Martha, “only one thing is needed” and that one thing was a spending time with Jesus in a personal and intimate way. We must not get s so wrapped up in our preparation for Christmas that we have no time for Christ.
The best thing you can do for yourself as we enter this Christmas season is, “Determine what is really stressing you out.” For example, if it is really stressing you out, do you really have to have that special dessert that takes entire afternoon to make? Do you absolutely have to decorate the house as elaborately as you did last year? In fact cross out everything that takes away from the real meaning of Christmas!
Set Realistic Expectations for Yourself and…
2. Remember Why You Are Doing What You Are Doing.
Martha got so busy serving Jesus she forgot to spend time with Jesus. We can get so busy with our preparations for Christmas, and our participation in Christmas that we forget to spend time with Christ.
I want to share poem that I think says it better than I can entitled, Can This Be Christmas?
“What’s all this hectic rush and worry?
Where go these crowds who run and scurry?
Why all the lights—the Christmas trees?
The jolly “fat man,” tell me please!
Why, don’t you know? This is the day
For parties and for fun and play;
Why this is Christmas!
So this is Christmas, do you say?
But where is Christ this Christmas day?
Has He been lost among the throng?
His voice drowned out by empty song?
No. He’s not here—you’ll find Him where
Some humble soul now kneels in prayer,
Who knows the Christ of Christmas.
But see the many aimless thousands
Who gather on this Christmas Day,
Whose hearts have never yet been opened,
Or said to Him, “Come in to stay.”
In countless homes the candles burning,
In countless hearts expectant yearning
For gifts and presents, food and fun,
And laughter till the day is done.
But not a tear of grief or sorrow
For Him so poor He had to borrow
A crib, a colt, a boat, a bed
Where He could lay His weary head.
I’m tired of all this empty celebration,
Of feasting, drinking, recreation;
I’ll go instead to Calvary.
And there I’ll kneel with those who know
The meaning of that manger low,
And find the Christ—this Christmas.
I leap by faith across the years
To that great day when He appears
The second time, to rule and reign,
To end all sorrow, death, and pain.
In endless bliss we then shall dwell
With Him who saved our souls from hell,
And worship Christ—not Christmas!
[M.R. DeHaan, M.D., Founder, Radio Bible - www.bible.org/illus/c/c-59.htm]
Remember Why You Are Doing What You Are Doing and …
3.Don’t Wait Too Long to Place Your Hope In Jesus Christ.
Christmas is such a spiritual thing for some but for others it just reminds them that there is something that they are missing. Christmas only reminds them of their spiritual emptiness.
“Back in the days when service station attendant actually filled your car for you, a preacher waited to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him at the service station. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump. “Preacher,” said the young man, “I am sorry about the wait. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute too get ready for a long trip!” The preacher, chuckled, “I know what you mean. It’s the same in my business.”
Don’t Wait Too Long to Place Your Hope In Jesus Christ and…
4.Decide To Do Something This Christmas To Make A Difference.
•Mend a quarrel, tell someone that may not know, how they have blessed your life.
•Forgive someone who has treated you wrong.
•Turn away wrath with a soft answer.
•Visit someone who is lonely.
•Surprise everyone and apologize if you were wrong.
•Be especially kind to someone with whom you work.
•Give as your gifts this Christmas give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or or reservation, or hidden meaning .
