“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” ‭Philippians‬ ‭4:11-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It's holiday time again! The familiar songs of the season have become the background music of daily life. Crazy traffic. Crowded stores. Kids constantly dreaming of piles of presents under the Christmas tree. There are centuries of expectations built up about what a beautiful family Christmas should be like. Whether it's the songs and poems or paintings and prints, you and I have been pounded with pressures to live up to the perfect Christmas. Whether it is to make a perfect Christmas for our families or to experience the perfect Christmas with our friends, we all have expectations. Those expectations can often lead to overwhelm and disappointment. You might be disappointed in a gift you received or how a gift from you was received. A relational disconnect made the holiday empty and dissatisfying. A meal that didn't turn out well. The weather kept you at home. The truth is that all that build up makes the holidays a disappointment waiting to happen. There is just no way for every aspect of the holiday to be perfect every minute every year.

So, how do you prepare for the letdown? Some aspect of your holiday this year will not meet your expectations. It's not too hard to set yourself up for success. In fact, the Apostle Paul left behind his secret of being content in every circumstance. Here are a few things I have learned from him.

I have everything I really need. Advertisements are assailing your senses every day. Even if you don't watch TV or read a magazine, there are ads on social media, billboards, the sides of trucks. They are everywhere. What is the goal of an advertiser? To convince you that you need their product. But the problem for you and me is that we don't really need any of it. Nada. When you think about the upcoming holiday, ask yourself what you and your family really need. Do you really need all the stuff?

What is the point of the Christmas holiday anyway? Quick religious answer: To celebrate the birth of the Savior. Yes, but what do you need in order to do that? What does your family need in order to remember Jesus? I'll bet that it will cost you nothing.

Beyond the spiritual emphasis, what is your goal for the holiday? I prayed over this question recently. All my grown-up kids and their significant others were going to be with us at Thanksgiving, but being together at Christmas was doubtful. So, we decided to celebrate Christmas while we were all together on the day after Thanksgiving. ( For those of you imagining us doing all that prep work, I don't cook for Thanksgiving. We go to my parents house!) My prayers focused on having reasonable expectations and clarifying the purpose of celebrating then. The conclusion I came to was that the goal was simply to celebrate together and enjoy being together. Knowing that helped me to narrow down what was really necessary to prepare or purchase. We didn't need everything, just enough.

We had a lovely time and built a beautiful family memory that included all our traditions, the basic things we would do as part of our Christmas celebration. Part of what made it so beautiful was the simplicity. The most important thing was being together and connecting with each other. The gifts and food were simply connecting points, not the star of the show. We had everything we really needed.

More is not always better. Lean times can often redirect us to what is most important. As a young mom learning how to do Christmas with my family, it was easy to feel the pressure of purchasing a bigger, better, budget-busting gift for my kids. Our financial situation was always tight, so I had to learn to readjust my expectations. But that process helped me to better focus on what was most important.

One year it seemed like we were going to have to be really sparing with the gifts and I began to pray and think about creative ways to make the holiday special. I am not a crafty person in the least! I have made things that look pretty okay, but it is definitely not an area where I thrive. Yet, that year God gave me an idea to make each of my family a personalized ornament with cardboard, gift wrap, glitter and glue. I made one for each of my kids and my husband with a single word on it to encourage them. Words like "GRACE" or "JOY". But the one thing I made that year that has become a part of our family tradition was a gift-wrapped shoe box, top and bottom wrapped separately. The gift tag reads "To Everyone." Inside is a rectangle of cardboard covered in gift wrap. Written on it in glued-on glitter are the words "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son..." It is the first gift that goes under our tree every year and the first gift we open as a family. It was the first gift we opened on our Thanksgiving Christmas after we sang "O, Come All Ye Faithful" at our creche, another family tradition. Simple and special.

When I have Christ, I have everything. I have learned from experience that what I need most is His strength in me. If I have that, I can face anything. I can live through anything. I can face the difficult times with confidence. I have hope when the day is darkest. With Christ I am reminded that there is more to this life than this life. With Christ I have access to the infinite. Isn't that amazing?! With Christ I have a relationship with the Eternal, Everlasting Father. With Christ I remember that this time on earth is temporary. I'm just passing through. So whether I have a lot or a little. Whether I have joy or pain. Whether this future looks bright or dismal. None of that is as important as knowing that I am found in Him and that when this life is over I will begin a new glorious heavenly life. That's EVERYTHING!

His presence in me gives me the resources I need to do whatever I need to. I have found that to be true in some of my darkest moments. I have found it to be true personally, when we have faced unexpected and overwhelming struggles. But I have also found it to be true as a minister.

Sometimes this calling brings me into other people's overwhelming pain and loss. Sometimes pastors have to walk with people through the unthinkable. As I enter into a situation like that, I simply know that I am not enough. I do not have what this person needs. Yet, I know that Christ does, and that He is in me. I am not enough, but He is. I have found Christ in me bringing out what the other needs. I have found it to be true: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Dear Friend, as your Christmas preparations head into these final days, let me encourage you to remember that you really do have everything you need because more is not always better and because when you have Christ, you have everything. To prepare for possible letdown, remember this: Contentment doesn't just happen, you have to choose it. Do you have Christ in you? Then, Friend, you have all you need to have a beautiful holiday as you choose contentment in Christ. May this be the simplest and most satisfying holiday you have ever experienced.

Key Thought: When I have Christ, I have everything I really need.

A Scripture to Consider:“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” ‭Philippians‬ ‭4:11-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A YES Challenge: As you consider your holiday preparations, prayerfully ask yourself what your goal is for the holiday. Once you have clarified your goal, prayerfully consider what you can adjust in your expectations for the holiday and let that guide you as you approach your tasks.

Prayer: Dear Father, forgive me for the ways that I sometimes get caught up in the Christmas frenzy that advertisers promote. I want to maintain family traditions that help me and my family to connect with You and with each other. Help me to eliminate the unnecessary aspects of my holiday preparations, even if what I most need to eliminate is the pressure I put on myself. Help me to enjoy this holiday with You and with those I am celebrating with. Amen.