It’s Christmas – be happy!
Isn’t that how the song goes? But what if someone reading this, doesn’t feel
happy? What if Christmas brings feelings of depression and sadness? In fact, “Christmas
is the time of year that people experience a high incidence of depression”
(Psychology Today, 2010).
According to an article I read, some of the reasons for
depression include:
·
Seasonal Affective Disorder (related to changes
in the amount of daylight we get)
· The commercialization of the holiday
· Ruminating about how inadequate our lives are compared to everyone else’s life
· The pressure to spend money that we don’t have to spend
· Social gathering expectations, and
· Feeling sad because loved ones are no longer here to share Christmas with us.
Their last point seems to capture me. I have great childhood
memories of grandparents, parents and family members gathering to enjoy
Christmas. Then later during married life, I recall wonderful Christmas memories
of my own family with 4 busy boys, grandparents and family - enjoying lots of
food and love. So during the Christmas season, when I sense a sadness beginning
to take root, I take time to reflect and remember my grandparents and parents.
I may grab a photo album and smile my way through all the pictures. I do this
with a sense of great fondness and thank God for His blessings.
But despite my acknowledging His continued blessings, the memory
of loved ones gone still catches me off guard each Christmas. So I allow myself
a 5 minute pity party and then instead of dwelling on the feelings of sadness,
I reach out to others that may need a smile or a listening ear. Isn’t that what
Jesus meant when He said, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also
to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4) or “Do not neglect to
do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God”
(Hebrews 13:16).
Yesterday I spent time with a single mom. It energizes me
when I get to spend time listening to how God is working in someone’s life! Being
a single parent is not easy. We laughed and praised God for the miracles
happening right here in Portland Maine!
If you are feeling sad this Christmas season, I encourage
you to spend time listening to another person’s story. May Jesus energize you
in similar ways that He did for me. Remember that how we live life is our
choice. Today I pray that you choose to bless others with the gifts God has
given to you ~
Merry Christmas, love,
Nancy
The article was retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201011/why-people-get-depressed-christmas
