The stresses of Christmas

Did you know that the body, more specifically your brain, cannot differentiate between good and bad stress (excitement)? So many of us end up feeling drained by the end of our Christmas holidays that we'd really do better with a vacation after our vacation.

Does that sound as confusing to you as it does to me? I think that this year, I need to put a bit of perspective on things.

The spouse of a colleague has just had cancer surgery - the doctors are hoping they've got it all. My family is healthy and whole.

Our 12 year old dog has just been put down a month ago. But we have a new puppy who is soooooo cute! He just brings along a whole new slew of stresses.

Do I really need that really expensive gift? No. I have just received a $15,000 or so home renovation. I'd really like my family to each write me a letter telling me all of the reasons they love me. I can scrapbook it later to preserve the love and joy for times when I feel lonely, unlovable and useless.

On a totally different note:

I have been encouraged (read hounded) to do a collaborative prayer journal with someone. The way I like to work is to have specific prayer requests to bring to God and pray for some one's healing either physically, emotionally or spiritually. I won't attempt to promise results that you'd want to see, but I will promise that God will hear it from a heart who longs to see His good and perfect will done here on earth.

I will pray for a stress manageable Christmas season in which we, as followers of Jesus, focus on the love that we have for our family, friends and the One who gave us the greatest gift of all: Himself.