It Looks Like Family, But We’re Fractured | Christmas Behind the Curtain | Week 3
Big Idea: Invite the light of Christ into your family this Christmas.
The perfect outfit for a peaceful family Christmas. PUT ON:
- Compassion: a deep sensitivity to the needs and sorrows of others.
- Kindness: the action that arises out of empathy.
- Humility: the noble choice to use your status and influence for the good of others.
- Meekness: all your emotional faculties under control.
- Patience: restraining yourself in the presence of the exasperating conduct of others
A quick survival guide for the dysfunctional family at the holidays.
- Keep it simple and use nostalgia as a connecting point.
- Manage your expectations.
- Consider your boundaries ahead of time and be ready to enforce them.
- Don’t try to control everything, be flexible.
- Debrief with a trusted friend, or counselor.
- Be the change you want to see in your family with no expectations that they’ll come along.
“Here’s My Chance!”
Practicing Solitude
- Get still. As distraction-free as possible – put everything away including your phone.
- Do 10 deep cleansing breaths – with each inhale pray silently “Christ shine your light.”
- Your mind might run wild but spend the first few moments resting in God’s presence.
- Read Psalm 139:1-6 multiple times. Read until certain words or phrases feel like they’re being ‘highlighted’ for you.
- Ask God what he might be saying to you.
- Pray those impressions back to God.
