What, me worry (Matthew 6:26-29)

We've reached the stretch run to the most wonderful time of the year. A beautiful covering of snow has appeared throughout most of the places familiar with such frozen flakes. Vacation time is just around the corner. And last, but certainly forefront in the child's mind, the biggest question of the season, what cool gifts am I going to get this year?

For many of us as we grow older the season starts to lose some of it's luster. Perhaps it's because we've been exposed to the dark underbelly of holiday anxieties. Maybe for you it's your growing stack of bills. It might involve extended family visiting for an awkwardly long time. It may relate to winter weather driving hazards. Perhaps you have christougenniatiko dentrophobia (the fear of Christmas trees). When you add up all the holiday stress, it's enough to keep your therapist busy for the entire year round.

If the Christmas season is a time of worry for you, check out Matthew 6:25-34. This is the part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus sings “Don't Worry, Be Happy.” While it's easy to know that worrying won't help you, it's hard to put into practice. Jesus says the key is to seek God first and the rest will take care of itself. A lot of times when you worry, it's because you're putting too much focus on yourself and what could happen to you. Shift the focus to God and he will tip the scales in your favor.

When I would start to freak out before the first day of school, my Mom would always give me the following advice: Help someone else out. That way I was looking for what other people needed instead of being overwhelmed by what I was afraid might happen. On top of the focus shift, you'll add on the “helper's high” I mentioned last week and now you're cooking with gas. Just remember, isn't the point of the holiday season to be focusing on someone else?

If you can Bobby McFerrin your Christmas carols: