Negativity and Christmas

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.- (Gil Stern)

First things first, Merry Christmas! As we enter the Christmas season many people focus on the negatives. They focus on the stress of: shopping, cooking, wrapping, traveling....etc. What a missed opportunity! These are the same people who miss the everyday joys of life! Don't fall into the Christmas negativity trap! Christmas should focus on three things:

1) The blessing of Christ Jesus' birth: Christ came to earth to spare us from an eternity separated from God. Not only does Christ sacrifice provide us with a fulfilling eternity but it also provides us with a more fulfilled life here on earth. If you look at life through the lens of "redemption through Christ" you find that there is much less to be negative about!

2) The blessing of Friends and family: This is a time to spend with Friends and family. Not because you "have to" but because you "want to." Christmas is an opportunity to bless your family with a great meal, a gift or a kind gesture. How often do you take time to show your appreciation for your Friends? How often to you tell your loved ones how much they mean to you? If it has been a while, Christmas is the time to remind them. Make this your focus and you will find very little to be negative about.

3) Being a blessing to those in need: Christ came to a world in need of a savior. He sacrificially gave his life for our eternal freedom. We should echo the act of giving to a world in need. Christmas is a time bless those in need. Whether you give a present, a check or your time: giving is a sure fire way to put some Christmas cheer in your heart. By focusing on the less fortunate we will find there is much less to be negative about.


As we approach Christmas remember the eternal gift of salvation. Remember the blessing of Friends and family. Remember to give to those in need. This is the essence of Christmas. If you embrace these 3 areas you will find yourself in more positive frame of mind this season.

Merry Christmas,

-David