Riding Life’s Emotional Roller Coaster

Highs that steal your breath – plummeting lows that stop your heart. Life can be an emotional roller coaster, especially around the holidays.

Emotional Landmines

You survived Thanksgiving but if you’re honest, your stomach is still doing somersaults.  Christmas is right around the corner and that means you will see people you would rather avoid, and others you love – but fear disappointing. Expectations will be unrealistic as usual. Glorious highs and deep drops lie ahead.

But I am an eternal optimist and believe in looking on the bright side. While some things remain out of our control, we have a lot of personal choices and options. We can embrace and enjoy the ride or as the age-old ditty goes, ‘go eat worms.’

Strap on Your Seat Belt

The holidays seem to tempt us toward sin. Family members are so good at pushing our buttons or jerking our strings. There is nothing like being an adult but still having to prove your worth and value to others. Especially family.

Watch Out for Those Sneaky Little Sins

Any time we gather with others of different opinions or views on life, angry retorts lay under the surface, and quick judgments spring to mind. Avoidance wins out when we know it would be healthier for us to have those hard conversations rather than let another year go by. We spend more money than we have on gifts no one needs and lie to our spouses about it. Or we lie to ourselves. Loneliness brings on temptation, and we indulge in unhealthy online activity. A little bit of sin can’t do much harm, right? Wrong. Every seed produces a harvest. We reap what we sow. It is both a natural and biblical law.

“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.”  Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)

Sometimes there seems to be no consequence to our little sin. But please believe me – every seed produces a harvest after its kind. If I plant an apple seed, I can grow an apple tree. If I plant tomato seeds, I will raise a crop of tomatoes. Good seed produces a healthy result. Sin produces rotten fruit – every time.

Every conversation we have becomes a seed we plant in another’s heart. Prepare your heart’s soil for a better and improved holiday

Anticipate, Pray, and Prepare

In anticipation of this holiday’s emotional ups and downs, be vigilant but confident going in. Be aware of your crafty enemy – and remember you are a greatly loved son or daughter of God.

Ask the Lord how to pray for and love that nasty uncle, or bragging cousin before you begin to shop for what you will wear or purchase that plane ticket. We have not (the relationships we desire) because we do not ask (James 4:2,3).

Prepare a few responses to the routine questions others often ask. For example, when they ask you how work is going, prepare a few positive things you can say about your job and coworkers even though you were passed over for a promotion – again. Maybe all you can say is that you are thankful for the steady paycheck.

Mention how glad you are for those who walk life with you. Maybe share one example of when you and a friend were there for one another.

Write down some jokes about the season and keep them close by. I heard a good one on Thanksgiving day: “If the pilgrims were here today, what would they be most known for?”

“Their age!”

Quit Apologizing

My life looks nothing like my siblings who have 9 to 5 jobs, their own homes, or at least an apartment lease. I live an unconventional life of faith. When my family asks me how things are going, I can honestly answer, “Fine.” It is the simple truth, just not my whole truth.  The temptation to embellish my truth is always present. But honestly, I live an extra-out-of-the-ordinary high-quality life. Best of all, I have friends and a church family on speed dial, participate in a ministry of prayer, and am helping people in recovery get their lives back. I no longer apologize for the way I live, and instead celebrate it. And when I get anxious, which I do at times, I trust God and lean into Him. I have an ample supply of all I need.

Make it About Others

Everyone has a story. How long has it been since you asked them how things were going? Do some preparation in the next week or two. If they are on social media, scroll back through their posts and check out what they have celebrated or mourned this past year and make a kind inquiry about it. Chances are if you prayed before you got together, your heart will be softened by God, and you will feel genuine concern and compassion for those you see.

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.” Galatians 5:19-22 MSG

A Lot to Celebrate

Remember what it is we are celebrating this Christmas: Christ’s birth.

Christmas celebrates the initiation of God’s love for us, culminating in the sacrifice of His son for our sins.

 

When a holiday conversation threatens to jerk you hard left, then right, and drop – try raising your arms high and letting out a good scream. That should get the party started and promote some good conversations. Bring joy to your next family gathering. You just might end up being everyone’s favorite gift this year.

Resources for further celebration of Christmas:

Mary Did You Know? sung by Kenny Rogers and Wynona Judd (lyrics by Mark Lowery)