Christmas can be a difficult time of year for many people, especially those who are single or divorced.
Shopping centres are filled with happy couples shopping for gifts, Netflix is inundated with Christmas movies filled with unrealistic expectations and if you're a single parent, you may be preparing for a Christmas day without your precious children.
So how do we get through this time of year without feeling the sting of our current situation?
Keep your expectations realistic
Life is not a Hallmark movie. You may come from a dysfunction family or maybe you don't have family to go to. Maybe you've lost someone special this year and spending your first Christmas without them fills you with more grief. Maybe you're facing financial difficulty and not being able to afford much in the way of presents is sapping your joy. Whatever you're facing this year, you're not alone. There are many people experiencing more suffering than joy.
It may be helpful to reach out to others you know who are doing it tough, even if you can't help practically you may be able to bring comfort to them simply by being there for them.
Allow yourself to feel the way you feel
Sometimes the church expects us to plaster the joy of the Lord on our faces at all times and people are not willing to hear how we really feel. If that's the case, it's ok to be selective about who you talk to and remind yourself that God is always willing to hear how we feel and bring us comfort.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit Psalm 34:18 NIV
Spend some time with the Lord sharing those feelings and laying them at his feet.
Make a plan for the year ahead
Rather than ruminating on your current situation it may be helpful to spend some time with the Lord praying for the year ahead and talking to God about your hopes and dreams.
Also, creating yourself some practical and realistic goals for the year ahead may bring some hope and maybe next Christmas, you can look back over the year with a sense of achievement.
We'd love to hear some other strategies you've discovered that have helped you and may be helpful to to others.
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