Holiday Cheer or Chores?
The holiday season is upon us! It’s time for feasts of delicious food, warm mugs of apple cider, cozy sweaters, crackling fires, and fuzzy blankets It’s the time of year for joyous celebration.
Or…at least it’s supposed to be.
But maybe you’re not looking forward to the holidays with as much excitement as others. After all, not everyone has the blessing of a tight knit family.
If pulling your family together for a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal sounds more like a chore than a chance to share in holiday cheer, you’re not alone. This time of year can be a struggle for many who have less than ideal family dynamics. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still make the most of it. And who knows? You might be surprised at what God does through it.
Equipped with the right frame of mind, a heart that is settled in God’s goodness, and practical steps forward, you can discover ways to bring your family together this holiday season.
Prayers for Your Family
Prayer is an essential part of seeing your family come together—during the holidays and all year round! . So invite God into your family. Spend time praying for them regularly. We need God to move in our family members’ hearts in order to see real change happen. But not only that, the more we pray for them, the more our hearts are softened towards them. Both aspects are beneficial for improving your familial relationships.
Here are a few prayers you can pray over your family:
1. A Prayer for My Family During the Holidays
Gracious Father, thank You for this time of year where we get to focus on gratitude and celebrate all the goodness You bring into our lives. Please bring comfort and unity to my family during the holidays. Help us to love one another just as You love us. In Jesus’ holy name, amen.
2. A Prayer for Open Doors for My Family
Almighty God, no one can open the doors that You close or close the doors that You open. I ask that You give me opportunities to be a light to my family. Help me to share the good news with them as Your Spirit brings unity and peace. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen.
3. A Prayer for Humility with My Family
Heavenly Father, it can be hard to love my family well. Please give me the humility to serve them, love them, and think of them better than myself. You give the perfect example of humility. Help me to be like you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
4. A Prayer for Healing in My Family
Dear Lord, You are the Great Healer. Only You have the power to fix what is broken. Please bring healing to my family. Restore our relationships and help us to love one another with the love of Jesus. Give me patience as I trust in Your plans for my family. I pray all of this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Learning to Communitate
Breakdowns of communication might be more of an obstacle in your family relationships than you realize. Most of our problems can be resolved (or at least be set on the path toward resolution) by resolving miscommunications.
Think about all the unique personalities in your family––are any two exactly the same? Probably not. This is how we should view people’s style of communication. Everybody relates and communicates in the ways that make the most sense to them. But when we don’t take time to learn how others communicate, we inevitably run into complications as people feel misunderstood, unheard, and unseen.
This holiday season, take the time to be mindful of different communication styles. Seek to listen and speak the way others relate to best and watch how it drastically changes your family experiences.
Loving Selflessly
Above all, if we hope to see our families come together during the holidays, we need to love others selflessly. This means having the heart of Christ––seeking to show care toward others without expecting anything in return. People are drawn to this kind of love.
So this holiday season, don’t fret the family dynamics. Seek the Lord’s heart in prayer, learn to communicate better with others, and show the sacrificial love of Christ. This holiday with your family may not be perfect, but you can be assured that working toward a healthier holiday experience is well worth the effort.
