Christmas is a time to BE family. Notice, that I didn’t say that Christmas is a time for family. It is an important distinction.
Many of us have spent time looking for just the right gift for someone we care about, whether it is for a spouse or children, parents, or perhaps a really good friend. That gift is a demonstration of our love for them.
Many of us will gather and spend time with grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins. I mean . . . what would this most special of holidays be without extended relatives? Perhaps you shouldn’t answer that!
Christmas reminds us of our identity as we celebrate our ancestry
It is at Christmas that we are reminded of our identity as we celebrate our ancestry. We are not isolated persons existing in a vacuum. We belong to those who claim a common name and a common past.
God wants us to love our family members even when we feel disappointed or let down by them. Why? Because, it is time to be family. We need to not only look out for our own interests, but to the interest of those who call us family (I will share some practical ways we can do this in tomorrow’s post).
12 practical ways to be family
- Show unconditional love.
- Be honest with each other (say what you mean and mean what you say).
- Demonstrate compassion.
- Give support..
- Show patience.
- Be there for each other.
- Respect each other’s differences.
- Deal with conflict as it arises.
- Listen to each other.
- Allow for healthy boundaries.
- Affirm each other.
- Clarify expectations.
I recognize that there are many more things that could be added to this list and that no family is going to do these things perfectly but I do believe these characteristics are a good starting point for what we should be striving for as we seek to be family.
We don’t know what tomorrow holds
Recent events have reminded us that we don’t know what tomorrow holds. We need to make sure that we are treasuring the moments that we have with our family and extended family.
If you are in a strained relationship with a family member, be the one who takes the initiative toward reconciliation. Don’t continue to hold onto the bitterness and hurt. Don’t put it off. Call them. Write them a letter. Go and visit them.
Choose to BE family this Christmas!
What others ways can we “be family” this Christmas?
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This post is part of a series of posts called “Surviving Christmas: 2 ways to make being with family this Christmas less stressful.” Here are the other posts:
1. The stress of being with family at Christmas.
2. Christmas Survival Tip #1: Remember to BE family!
3. Christmas Survival Tip #2: Seek for ways to demonstrate our love for each other.
A Few Related Posts You May Find Useful:
Sermon Synopsis 12/16 – When Christmas isn’t all it’s cracked up to be
What are your Christmas traditions?
5 tips to avoid overspending this Christmas
4 practical ways to demonstrate humility in relationships
4 practical ways to demonstrate the attitude of service
3 ways to give the gift of presence to your children this Christmas
2 ways to honour the overlooked this Christmas
The stress of being with family at Christmas
I recently read that forgiveness is giving up the right to punish someone else.
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I think Being Family means letting go of our need to seek justice for any wrongs done to us.
Wish I could remember who said that- sorry.
tcavey recently posted…Merry CHRISTmas
That is so true TC! These are great words of truth,
Thanks for sharing.
Kevin Martineau recently posted…Having a bad day?
Such great practical advice, Kevin. Being around family is one thing, but being family can be hard work. It yields such tremendous fruit though! Thanks.
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Jason Stasyszen recently posted…What Are You Reading?
It sure does!
Thanks for sharing Jason.
Kevin Martineau recently posted…All of us are inclined to ignore certain people in our life
Showing your love for your family can be a great way to get strong family relationship. Showing your love can be done by being helpful, caring, and understanding to all of your family members. Being a kind person for them can also make the relationship between you and your family to be better.
Katrin Rain recently posted…Pre-Physical Therapy Training
Great suggestions Katrin!
Thanks for sharing.
Kevin Martineau recently posted…Having a bad day?
this is another wonderful bit of advice Pastor Kevin; I do feel that your advice goes along with my thought from your other post; perception plays a large part of how we react to various members of our family.
Thank you again Pastor.
Absolutely Michael!
We have to choose to be family. Nobody else can make that choice for us.
Thanks for sharing.
Kevin Martineau recently posted…6 ways to practice the presence of God throughout your day
Great ideas, Kevin, and great advice.
This reminds me of something someone said to me many years ago… As a young mom, I wished I had an older woman or two who would be to me the “older woman” described in scriptures. The advice given was that if I didn’t have any older women in my life, then I could focus on BEING the older woman to someone else. Anyone who is not as far as you on the path can benefit from your experience.
Willena
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Willena Flewelling recently posted…The 12th of the 12th of the 12th
That is great advice Willena! Being a mentor is such a powerful gift to give to someone.
Thanks for sharing.
Kevin Martineau recently posted…Merry Christmas!