It’s Christmas, How’s Your Stress Level?
Follow The Star
SHARON W. BETTERS
TODAY’S TREASURE
Family problems? Join the Holy family.
Imagine your 15-year-old daughter (or daughter-in-law-to-be) standing at your bedroom door and stuttering, "Mom, I have something to tell you." Your heart skips a beat, and you hold your breath as she continues, “Now don't get upset, but I'm pregnant. Before you say anything, I still have my purity ring on, and no, Joseph didn't pressure me and I'm still a virgin and the baby's father is God.” She senses your disbelief and adds, “An angel told me.”
Remember Mary's response to the angel who “told her?” I have a feeling your stress level just went through the roof and you're trying not to scream Mary's same words, “And, uh, how can these things be?” We never hear about Mary's parents or her in-laws, but no doubt they felt extreme stress over this turn of events.
Decisions, Decisions!
Are you overwhelmed with all the decisions you need to make? Join Joseph’s party. His fiancé is pregnant. Let's imagine his thoughts after the shock of getting this news.
"This is not my baby! What options do I have? Stoning Mary, but no matter what she has done, that's a little extreme. I think I'll just quietly divorce her because I still love her and I don't want to hurt her..."
But Joseph, never fear, an angel will pay you a surprise visit and tell you to believe Mary's child is the Son of God and to stay the course and marry Mary.
Ah, wouldn’t you just love an angel to help out with all of your decisions?
But we still don’t know what happened to the in-laws.
Too Many Bills, Taxes, and a Trip to Underwrite?
Joseph was a carpenter with a new wife and a baby on the way. Increased taxes require him to go to Bethlehem to pay them. Along with all the other stresses, he has to pay for the trip. We think our taxes are bad, but we don’t know much about the taxes of that era. But this new husband saddles up his very pregnant wife on a donkey and makes the trek to Bethlehem to register and pay their taxes.
If it Can Go Wrong, It Will!
Mary was very, very pregnant. When I was nine months pregnant, my doctor wouldn't let me travel by car from Philadelphia to Delaware to celebrate Christmas with family. Imagine her face if I asked if I could go by donkey! Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem exhausted, far from home, knowing the baby will soon be born. In that Middle Eastern culture, you would think the extended family in Joseph's hometown of Bethlehem would have opened their homes to this weary couple. But, talk about family conflict, no room for you, Joseph! I imagine the candles going out and the curtains being drawn as Joseph and his "hussy wife" passed by. Every motel had a No Vacancy sign. As if things couldn’t get worse, Mary goes into labor. Yeah, that stress level must have been rising just a little bit!
Do you think Joseph was starting to wonder if he heard that angel right? Do you think he might have been starting to question God’s plans for his life? Maybe not? Maybe his faith was so supernatural that every time he was tempted to worry, he remembered the words of the angel. These circumstances gave him two options: Throw up his hands in despair and conclude he could not trust God or see them as a surefire way for him to practice patience and trust. And, sure enough, God provides a stable for the birth of the King of kings.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
How is your stress level as you prepare for Christmas? Make a list in your journal of all the stressors in your life. Which ones can you delegate to others? Someone told me to delegate tasks to people who can do them at least 80% as well as I can. Does your list include making memories? Look for ways to turn some of your tasks into making memories opportunities, for example, shopping with a friend, sharing a bench and bag lunch with a walking buddy, and baking cookies or bread with a child to share with neighbors or special friends. Our grandchildren remind me of memory making activities that slipped my mind long ago. They may not remember the gifts from last year, but they remember walking around the neighborhood and looking at the Christmas lights on a cold December night.
Look at your calendar now and be intentional about such memory making moments.
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PRAYER
Oh Father, remind us in all of our business to take time to soak up the joy of Jesus, to remember making memories is more important than stuff, and investing in relationships can open doors to share the love of Jesus with a neighbor, a child, a coworker, a spouse, a friend.
Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.