Do you ever get depressed around the holidays? Many people do including myself. This year I decided I’d float through the holidays and just enjoy every minute. Right!
I must explain that I have a physical handicap. I have a serious eye muscle problem. I’m only using one eye in order to avoid double vision. This causes me to tire very quickly and I get many headaches. The added pressures of the holiday season wear on me and I tend to dread them as my frustration level increases.
I’ve been trying to get into the swing of the holidays and yesterday set out to bake some wonderful Christmas cookies. Well, after setting the smoke alarm off three times I gave up. I can’t believe I burned up the Peanut Butter Blossoms. They are now called Burnt Bottom Peanut Butter Blossoms. Try saying that fast six times in a row. 🙂 My patience ran out, and my dh had to take over. I thank for Lord for a wonderful husband who came to the rescue.
That was the second cookie failure in less than a week. A few days ago I attempted some Pecan Tea Tassies. I’ve never made them before, but they are one of my favorites and my niece said they were easy so I got busy. To make a long story short, they didn’t turn out.
After my cookie failures it would be easy for me to sink into a depression, as I was fighting it in the first place. It seems like such a waste of time and money, and I feel like I failed. I know there must be a lesson here some place, but I’m not sure what it is right now. Maybe it is to really appreciate how patient and kind my husband is.
Depression robs us of our joy at the holidays. Why does this happen? Many of us are over stressed at this time of year. There are so many things to do, and the pressure mounts. We have many parties and celebrations with family and friends. We have too much to do and to little time. Much is expected of us. There is the financial pressure of how much to spend. In some parts of the country the weather can be another factor weighing on our shoulders.
We need to clean, shop, bake, wrap gifts, order things,exchange things that we bought by mistake, watch for the best sales, make sure we have all the ingredients on hand for the holiday baking, buy groceries for the parties, get the kid’s teachers gifts, make sure they have everything for their school functions, and on and on it goes. All of this is crammed into a very short period of time and it is no wonder it gets of us down.
There are other reasons why some people get depressed at this time of year. Many people have lost loved ones near the holidays and all of those unpleasant memories are again stirred up. They miss those who have gone on. Some have panic disorder and even the thought of shopping, crowds, and parties can be debilitating.
Some are lonely as all the family has either moved far away or they don’t really have any family. Christmas is a time for families. There are all kinds of problems associated with holidays and family gatherings.
So, if you are one who is experiencing holiday depression you are not alone, that’s for sure. If you are a Christian, then you most likely are adding guilt on top of depression. As everyone knows, “Christians are not to be depressed!”
Reality is that anyone can get depressed. The important thing is to learn how to deal with it.
Here are some ways to beat depression before depression beats you.
Here is a very important one:
1. Check yourself. See if there is any unconfessed sin in your life. If so, get right with God. Confess your sin and turn from it. Are you holding grudges? Is there someone in your family or at work you need to forgive or ask forgiveness of?
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NASB)
2. Think of others more highly than ourselves. We need to think of others needs before our own. In other words, not be selfish.
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; (Romans 12:3)
3. Pray and ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit and walk in his strength through the holidays making sure your actions and words are honoring to him.
4. Be realistic. Look at your schedule and see if it is overloaded. Then, see where you can cut back. Give yourself a break.
5. Don’t be afraid to say no. You can say “no,” if you have too much going on. Use common sense.
6. Downsize. We really don’t have to buy every new thing on the market for our kids and families. Why not think about just getting one gift for each family member and take the rest of the money you would spend and give it to charity? It’s a thought, and it might teach the children that it is better to give than receive. It might be too late for this one this year, but what about next year?
7. Take time to meditate on the real meaning of Christmas. Listen to some relaxing Christmas music while sipping a hot cup of tea and enjoy a few Christmas cookies. Hope they turned out better than mine. Of course, my husband and I have to eat the Burnt Bottom Peanut Butter Blossoms!
The Lord wants us to have love in our hearts and joy in our lives this holiday season. Remember the only one we really need to please is God himself.
May God bless you this holiday season!
Hi Claudia,
Sorry you had to go through all that hassle with the frosting. But, it is nice to know I’m not the only one who goofs up. 🙂 It is wonderful that you have great guys to step up and help you out like that. PTL Your company did not know the difference. 🙂
Love ya,
Bonnie
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Hey Bonnie!
Did you know that as I was making cream cheese frosting for the cakes yesterday I put flour in the mixture instead of confectioners sugar! The frosting kept getting thicker and thicker, and was not sweet and at first I couldn’t understand why. So I kept adding more flour (thinking it was the c sugar) Finally it dawned on me but by that time the flour had turned the dough hard and heavy like a rock–all stuck to the beaters! Duh! Finally it dawned on me and I only had 45 minutes before everyone was to arrive for our gathering,and I still had not fixed my hair. Boy did I feel the pressure! I felt overwhelmed, but them calmed myself and thought “Dear Father, please help me!” I began to clean up the mess as Dear Walt drove down to the Superette to get me some more cream cheese. I then made the rest of the frosting and to my delight and great relief, my guys actually finished frosting the cakes and cleaned up the dishes so I could finish getting myself ready!
Thanks so much for the words of encouragement and help at this wonderful, yet busy time of the year!
Love Ya,
Claudia
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Donna,
Thanks for your kind words and especially for your prayers.
Yes, the real reason for the season is Jesus! Praise God he saw fit to send us his son to live and die for us. Think of where we’d all be without him. Talk about depression!
This is a good time of the year to think of others and especially those who are less fortunate. When we have extra I like to help out the Rescue Mission as I know they give out the Word of God and help those who really are down and out.
Love, Bonnie
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Bonnie,
We all have burned Christmas cookies before I’m sure. We are only human. Your husband is such a nice person. It’s a pleasant thing to hear that he helped you.
God bless you as you deal with the eye problem that you have. Know you are in my prayers.
You have such good advice to give and I hope everyone that reads this will follow it. Your heart is a good heart and you only mean the best for people. Jesus will bless you for it. 🙂 I think it’s a wonderful idea to give to a charity at Christmas and maybe even once a month, like a soup kitchen or food bank. People need clothes. The Salvation Army will come and pick up items from homes if you can’t get it to them.
We are so blessed by the Lord and I like to share the blessings God gives me with others. Thank you for reminding us of the reason for the season—Jesus!
Love,
Donna
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