The Feelings of Christmas

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