Love's Holiday

Photo from http://everythingexclusivemag.com/tag/holiday-love/

The holiday season is full of cheer – a large variety of décor is seen all around, music plays freely on the radio station, a constant reminder that there indeed is something special taking place.  And a celebration, it truly is!  Around Thanksgiving comes Hanukkah, the eight day Jewish Feast of the Lights, then later Christmas, Kwanzaa and of course the celebration of the New Year. Holidays are synonymous with vacations, school breaks and days off from work, which means there will be interruptions in the normal routine.  With that many events occurring, coupled with the excitement of focusing of pending rest time, it is easy to fall into impatience with anyone or anything providing obstacles to reaching our holiday plans.

Let’s face it; we do tend to act out of character this time of year. It may be that we have become stingy with the stapler or found ourselves on the very last sheet of notebook paper or obsessing to figure out how to get that perfect gift for the cousin we only see this time of year.  The anticipation of the peace, ironically, can cause dissension on the very path to achieving it.  What then must we do? How can we maintain our regular attitudes and disposition while embracing our holiday cheer?

We have to use the cheer as an enhancement – recognize how it affects us and build our own new routine around it.  Know that the normal schedule will be interrupted and we will have to adjust.  Ephesians 4:2 reads, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” At the end of the day, the season really is about love; it is Love’s Holiday and we have an obligation to share that. 

Consider keeping your thoughts on the motivation of the season, instead what comes with it; let’s spread love to everyone we meet.