For most of us, the month of December climaxes around one significantly marked date on the calendar:  Christmas!  The entire month, if not the weeks preceding it, become a hectic rush to complete the ever growing list of "to-do's" and "must get done" before the entire structure collapses on the evening of the 24^th. 

Never has there been so much contradiction between "peace on earth, good will to men" and "I'm so stressed that I can't take it anymore".  The question for all of us is; which Christmas are we practicing?   Are we losing the real reason for the celebration in the mess of details and obligations that so often consume us?

Please allow me to offer a little help - and hope for the weary one during this special time of celebration.  It is sad to say that more than one of us has lost the true celebration of Christmas in the clutter that surrounds it.

• Establish clear expectations for the entire family.  So often everyone has a different expectation for what should happen.  Extended family obligations are often filled with expectations that drain the Christmas spirit out of you.  Do yourself a favor and say no.
• Set priorities!  There is no way you can do everything, so something is going to have to give.  Make sure you set your priorities based on what you want to accomplish, not what others expect you to do.
• Set limitations!  This is almost the same as setting priorities, except that here you simply set boundaries that you won't cross.  For example, we won't spend more than a set amount of money on presents; we won't allow non-family parties to cut into family time; we won't put secular celebrations before our church and Christ-centered celebrations.
• Don't be afraid to create new traditions that embrace the true celebration of Christmas.  So often our traditions become more important than the One we remember in celebration.  Give yourself the freedom to do it differently, and bring back the true spirit of Christmas.
• Don't compete with others to see who has the most beautiful house, tree, wrapped presents, food, etc.  It's not about competition, it's about Christ.
• Above all else, repeat it over and over again:  "Christ-mas".  It is the celebration of Christ, the Son of God who came into this world to be the sacrifice for our sins.  He is the guest of honor and the focus of the celebration.  He is the love of God put forth into this world so that we can have hope for a life after this.  He is the reason we celebrate.

It is my prayer that your Christmas is filled with the love of Christ, as we celebrate together the greatest gift the world has ever known.