How to Create a Grace-Filled Christmas

Joan Webb is a Word-saturated, intentional woman of God. In this Holiday UPGRADE, she explores how practicing grace might help us during the Christian season.

 "While preparing for this gift-giving season, I asked myself—and God—two questions (at different times)," Joan said.  

"First: What is Christmas to me?

"Second: What would it mean to enjoy a grace-filled' holiday?"

This sounds like an invitation to freedom to me (Dawn). I'm going to sit at Joan's feet a few minutes and learn from her wisdom.

Joan continues ...

Regarding question #1, I wrote the following in my journal:

To me Christmas is:

1. Jesus—knowing Him intimately and learning what He meant when He said, "I came that you might have abundant life."

2. Loving God, and walking and talking with Him daily.

3. Experiencing God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Spirit in the midst of earth's daily imperfection and chaos.

"Sooooo, every day is Christmas to me," I concluded.

And then it dawned on me that this reality—that every day is Christmas for me—has caused me to "lighten up" my unrealistic expectations for celebrating Christmas. It's been more an internal shift than an outward one.

I've released some of the intense "shoulds and have tos and musts" that society, the media, the church, my inner bully and others (who appear to have it all together) tell me (or at least hint) that I NEED to do. 

In my heart, I now know I don't have to cram all my giving, caring, doing, gratitude, merriment, music, celebrations, goodwill, and spirituality into the four to five concentrated weeks of Christmas holidaying.

Regarding Question #2:

I read about the original meaning of the word "grace" used in the Bible to tell us about the Christ of Christ-mas. This "grace" is the direct opposite of "works." In fact the two are mutually exclusive.

All my "trying too hard to make it all just right" at Christmas (or any other time) is the antithesis of grace.

When I truly accept God's grace (or favor) in Christ, I'm able to be grace-ful with myself and others. We can be thankful for this wonderful grace:

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ... From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:14-17).

I shared this practical grace example with some women at the beginning of December one year. A mom with four little kids got so excited that she began thinking of ways to "grace" herself and her family during the Christmas season.

One practical thing she did was to relax her expectations for how her artificial tree would be decorated. When she put it together, she didn't have time to "fluff" up the branches, so she let it go—and allowed the kids to decorate anyway!

All very smile-able.

How will you "grace" yourself and your loved ones this Christmas season?

Joan C. Webb is a speaker and author who has written thirteen books including The Intentional Woman (co-authored with Carol Travilla), The Relief of Imperfection: For Women Who Try Too Hard to Make It Just Right and a four book devotional series for children. As a Life Coach who specializes in working with writers and communicators, Joan helps set people free to become who they were designed to be and from what holds them back. For more information about becoming an intentional woman, visit Joan's website.

Comments

[Joan C. Webb]

Thank you for asking me to share about my relief-producing, grace-filled Christmas story, Dawn. As I sat in my big chair, sipping chai tea, praying and journaling this morning, a savored the gratitude I feel because God has encouraged me to release my "everything must be just right" expectations for Christmas -- and my life. Christmas relief-blessings to all Christ-followers this holiday.