TIS THE SEASON

A popular Christmas carol says –

“Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Fa la la la la, la la la la (fa la la la la, la la la la)

'Tis the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la, la la la la (fa la la la la, la la la la)

Don we now our gay apparel

Fa la la la la, la la la la (fa la la la la, la la la la)

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol

Fa la la la la, la la la la

I’ve heard many people say that Christmas is their favourite time of the year or their favourite holiday. They say that they loooooooove Christmas. Why?

They love the excitement in the air, the Christmas decorations everywhere – in the stores, at their workplaces, and homes; the Christmas music, the “dreamy” Christmas movies both traditional and new; the food – sorrel, ham, Christmas cake, ginger beer, ponche a crème, blue-drawers, pastelle, and the gungo (pigeon peas) rice and peas and all the other rich foods we consume on Christmas day.

They looooove the crispy clean homes freshly painted and nicely adorned with new curtains and sheets, Christmas trees and pepper lights. In Trinidad they love the parang music and “paranging” - visiting friends and family singing carols and eating cake, drinking sorrel and ponche a crème, and having a festive time.

Last but not least, Christmas lovers enjoy the exchange of gifts among friends, family and colleagues.

The Christmas season is often called the “silly season” because for weeks leading up to December 25, we frantically rush around like “mad ants” whose nest have been disturbed, involved in a multiplicity of activities and much spending, all for one day which, when it is over leaves many of us “broke”, exhausted, guilty or disappointed, riddled with anxiety, depressed and even physically sick.

Why? For many, ‘tis the season to:

  • Clean up house and land

  • Cook whole heap ah food and eat and drink till “belly buss”

  • Give, give, give to friends, family, and the less fortunate

  • Celebrate till yuh pop dong (exhausted)!

Well, those are all are good…if done in moderation, AND if we do not forget the reason for the season - the birthday boy, Jesus Christ.

If we remember that the birth of Jesus Christ is the real reason Christmas is being celebrated, we will remember that the reason this is such a big deal is that Jesus Christ is God’s gift to mankind. He was born as one of his own creation - mankind, lived on the earth he created, died at the hands of those he created, and was buried. He rose again and returned to heaven where he is interceding on our behalf forever. All this, to save you and me from sin and death (estranged from God) by reconciling us to God.

When we remember this then we will know that ‘tis the season

  • to accept God’s wonderful gift of salvation (wrapped up so many years ago in swaddling clothes in a manger) into our hearts today.

  • to celebrate Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection, because each of us can now have eternal and abundant life!!!

  • to give “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14), so we will live our lives and operate during this season and always, in ways that will bring glory to God and demonstrate peace and goodwill toward our fellow man (and woman).

This means that ‘tis the season to:

  • take time out to be still and spend some time with God, reflecting on His Word

  • spend quality time with loved ones and friends listening to and connecting with each other

  • take care of the temple of God (your body) by getting enough sleep, drinking water, taking breaks from work and socializing, resting and relaxing for some of the time and not going going going all the time.

  • take care of those in need within your sphere of influence

  • protect your whole health -physical, mental, emotional and spiritual by:

    • Doing all the above

      • Not spending more than you can afford (work with a budget) and running up debt or leaving yourself “bruk”

      • Excercising and eating and drinking in moderation

      • Being kind to yourself and others

‘Tis the season now and always.

YOUR WEEKEND RESET TIP

This week remember ‘tis the season to spend time with Jesus Christ the birthday boy and CELEBRATE the life he died for you to have. Have a wonderful time of celebration!!!

MY GIFT TO YOU: My gift to you is my FREE ‘Recharge and Reset Retreat - Wellness & Wholeness’ on Friday, December 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. where together with some other Sistas, we will recharge and reset for 2023. Register Here

What better way to start 2023 than to join a community of women who will support you and your dreams and hold you accountable. You become a lifelong member of this community when you participate in my 12 week Recharge and Reset programme which begins in January 2023. I will be coaching 15 women to recharge and reset their lives by creating a vision, setting goals, taking action and being accountable.

Sharon Carruthers, the author of the ‘Weekend Reset’ blog is a child of God, wife, mother of 3, a Human Resource Management and Development Consultant, and owner of the firm, ‘Bold Consulting’. She is sharing from her own experiences for women who are holding back, or living on autopilot; who believe their identities are in others and, or in what they do; or who neglect themselves while sacrificially taking care of others. She hopes that together Christian women can embrace the future with the beautiful hope of transformation one step at a time.

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