KEEPING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

Every December, it happens. The calendar fills up faster than your supplement cabinet, the to-do list multiplies like Christmas cookies, and somewhere between “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells,” you start wondering: Where is Christ in all this?

You start with the best intentions — “This year, I’ll slow down and keep Christ at the center.” But then come the school concerts, the travel, the shopping, the late-night wrapping sessions, and the endless trays of sugar. Suddenly, peace on earth feels unreachable, and you’re praying your stretchy pants make it to New Year’s.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. But God never asked for perfection — He asked for presence. This year, maybe the healthiest thing you can do for your mind, body, and spirit is to put Christ back at the center of it all. Here’s how — and it might even lower your blood pressure too.

Start with the “Why,” Not the “What.” Before the shopping lists and schedules take over, take five quiet minutes to remember why you celebrate in the first place. Christ-mas isn’t about the tree or gifts — it’s about God stepping into the mess of humanity with love and redemption.

Write your “why” somewhere you’ll see it daily. When the day feels too full or the lines too long, pause and remember — even the first Christmas involved travel stress, unexpected guests, and a makeshift nursery. Yet through it all, God’s presence changed everything.

Simplify Like Your Soul Depends on It. You live in a culture that worships “more” — more decorations, more gifts, more commitments. But “more” is often the thief of peace. Jesus wasn’t born in a palace. He came quietly, simply, and surrounded by straw. If the Savior of the world can make an entrance in a barn, you can host Christ-mas dinner without the fine china. Simplifying isn’t about doing less — it’s about doing what matters most.

Make Worship Part of Your Routine — Not an Afterthought. You plan every other part of Christmas. Plan to worship, too. Attend a candlelight service, play your favorite worship songs while baking cookies, or gather your family to read the story from Luke 2 before opening gifts. If you have little ones, bake a “birthday cake for Jesus” and actually sing. It’s silly, yes, but it plants a truth in their hearts that lasts longer than any toy.

Give Generously — But Not Just from Your Wallet. The most meaningful gifts cost nothing at all: time, forgiveness, presence, encouragement. Visit a shut-in neighbor. Drop off a meal to a struggling family. Call that friend you’ve lost touch with. The very first Christmas gift wasn’t wrapped under a tree — it was wrapped in swaddling clothes, and it’s still changing lives today

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Laugh at the Chaos. Because it’s coming — the toppled tree, the burned cookies, the missing gift tag. It’s okay. The first Christ-mas wasn’t perfect either. Mary and Joseph faced full inns, cold nights, and crying animals. Yet somehow, God turned the imperfect into the miraculous. So when things go sideways, take a deep breath. Pour a cup of cocoa. Laugh. Let grace fill the gaps where perfection can’t.

Remember: Peace Comes from a Person, Not a Plan. You can organize your sched-ule, color-code your wrapping paper, and still feel frazzled. True peace isn’t found in having it all together — it’s found in Jesus.

He is still Emmanuel — “God with us.” That truth alone can steady your spirit when the world feels loud and demanding.

So this year, put Christ back in Christmas. Trade stress for stillness, hurry for holiness, and chaos for connection. And if you can manage to do it while keeping your blood pressure under control and your cat out of the nativity scene — well, that’s just a Christmas miracle in itself.

From all of us at Norland Avenue Pharmacy, Merry CHRISTmas!