3 Common Mistakes to Avoid at Christmas
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Written by Jimmie Burroughs 
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Christmas is the most celebrated holiday of the year, and also the most misrepresented. According to all the hype, Christmas is about spending money, partying, drinking and getting new stuff. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Christmas like all 364 other days of the year is a time to give thanks for the savior, Jesus Christ. On the other hand, Christmas is just a day on the calendar like any other day. While there is immense significance for what the day stands for, there is no magic in the day itself. Every day is a day which the Lord has created, and every day is a time to give thanks. We all make mistakes, but the Christmas season can be a much better experience by being aware of 3 common mistakes to avoid at Christmas:
The first mistake to avoid at Christmas is overspending, spending more than you can afford. It is best to calculate the cost before Christmas shopping begins, and determine just how much you can afford to spend and stick to it. Here are some sensible guidelines: 1. Shop early; black Friday is a excellent starting place, or even better buying along throughout the year as you find exceptional bargains. 2. Don’t charge on your credit card and spend the New Year paying for Christmas plus interest. 3. Shop around for the best deals. Someone recommended a book to me, so I went online to order it. I found the book discounted from $16.95 down to $8.95 plus $8.00 shipping and handling, so I was just about to place my order when it occurred to me that I should have first check around for a still better deal. Right off I found the same book for $5.95 and no shipping cost to first time buyers which I was. So, I saved $11.00 in just five minutes of searching for a better deal.
The second mistake to avoid at Christmas is excessive partying and drinking. Excessive partying can leave you broke, and excessive drinking could leave you dead if you drink and drive. Getting together with friends at Christmas for fun and fellowship is a splendid thing to do, but like most anything else, too much of a pleasurable thing can be harmful, especially if it is costing you money you can’t afford. Drinking in excess is always a terrible idea any time of the year but especially during the Christmas season when a lot of drinking and driving is going on. It ups your chances of getting involved in an accident or arrested for DUI. If you must drink, at least for the sake of others, please don’t drive.
The third mistake to avoid at Christmas is expecting too much from one day out of the year. As I said earlier: Christmas is just another day out of 365 days. It has no magic and cannot solve any of your problems, but it can add to them depending on your concept of Christmas. The build up toward Christmas, which seems to start earlier and earlier each year, can create in your mind the false belief that Christmas will give you needs and feelings that are missing in your life. When it finally comes, it is a complete letdown because the same old feelings and problems persist and seem even larger than before. That is why the suicide rate is highest after Christmas than any other time of year.
Conclusion
Christmas is based on giving to others and not getting. God is a giver: ”It is more blessed to give than to receive,” according to the Lord. God gave to the world, the Christ Child: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”, John 3:16. The greatest gift ever was God’s love toward us in giving His Son, and the greatest gift we can give to others at Christmas and throughout the year is our love. It never is about the size or cost of a gift. Simple, but needful gifts given in the attitude of love are far better in my opinion. I’m not saying you should never give expensive gifts if you can afford them, but I’m saying that it isn’t necessary for showing love toward others. May God bless you and may you, and your families’ Christmas be Happy!
Jimmie Burroughs: Founder of Christian personal development.
About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is an motivational speaker and author who has been involved in teaching Christian Personal Development for more than 30 years. There are hundreds of articles to help you on this website ( Website Contents ) in your personal growth. If I can help you personally, please send your concerns via Contact me.
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