Surviving Your Family During the HolidaysSample

Keeping God At The Center

The holidays can be more exhausting than restful.

Travel. Packed schedules. Family drama. The emotional anticipation of it all. By the time it’s over, most of us feel like we need a vacation from our vacation.

But that’s not what the holidays were meant to be.

The very word “holiday” comes from “holy day”—days set apart. Sacred. Cherished. Symbolic.

And if we’re not careful, we’ll miss the gift right in front of us.

Take Thanksgiving, for example.

It’s a day designed for one thing: to practice gratitude.

You may not have everything you want.

The family you dreamed of.

The career you prayed for.

The house you saved for.

The income you thought would finally make you secure.

But you do have something. And that something is worth giving thanks for.

Because here’s the truth: gratitude changes you.

Paul put it simply, “Give thanks in all circumstances…” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV).

And science agrees.

A UCLA study found that people who regularly practice gratitude report better sleep, lower stress, stronger relationships, even fewer signs of illness. (1)

Gratitude is not denial.

It doesn’t ignore what’s broken.

It names what’s good, even in the middle of what’s hard.

It opens your heart to joy.

And sometimes, we need a day set apart to remind us that what I have, right here, is grace.

Then there’s Christmas.

Have you noticed how the anticipation leading up to Christmas almost feels bigger than the day itself?

The lights.

The music.

The waiting.

That’s not an accident.

It’s intentional.

Because Christmas is about waiting.

Advent is the season of longing for the Messiah, the promised gift who would come to rescue His people.

And when Christmas finally arrives, it’s a reminder that God is faithful.

That He keeps His promises.

That He loves us enough to step into our broken world, to put on flesh and walk among us.

Christmas is about more than a manger, it’s about trust.

If God has been faithful before, He will be faithful again.

And then comes the New Year.

Every January, the calendar resets, and hope rises.

We feel it in our bones, the possibility of change.

The chance to start fresh.

Break a habit.

Restore a relationship.

Live with better balance.

Take that risk we’ve been putting off.

Why does that feel so sacred?

Because it is.

God has built into creation rhythms that reflect spiritual realities.

The New Year is a tangible reminder of the gospel.

Jesus makes all things new.

He wipes away sin.

He breaks generational cycles.

He offers a fresh start.

The turn of the calendar is just a shadow pointing us to the deeper reality of His redemption.

So this holiday season, don’t let the chaos steal the sacred.

In the middle of family dysfunction and political debates, in the overeating of desserts and the noise of football games, make space to remember the holy.

Thanksgiving is more than turkey; it’s a reminder to give thanks in all things.

Christmas is more than gifts; it’s a reminder that God keeps His promises.

New Year’s is more than resolutions; it’s a reminder that Jesus offers a new creation.

These are not just holidays.

They are holy days.

Sacred gifts.

Opportunities to pause.

To reflect.

To breathe.

To let gratitude, hope, and trust anchor your soul again.

So don’t miss it.

Don’t let these days become just another blur on the calendar.

Receive them.

Rest in them.

Remember the goodness of God in them.

Because the truth is, these days are a gift.

And gifts are meant to be opened with joy.

Prayer

Father, thank You for these holy days. Teach me to see them as more than busy schedules and family routines, but as sacred invitations to gratitude, wonder, and renewal. Anchor my heart in Your faithfulness, and let me carry that joy into the year ahead. Amen.

Reflection

For the next week, take time in the morning to write down 5-10 things you’re grateful for.

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(1) Uclahealth. “Health Benefits of Gratitude.” UCLA Health, March 22, 2023. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/health-benefits-gratitude.