Refocusing

James McCall

MDiv, MA, LPC/A

12/12/2022

Wow, can you believe Christmas is a little over a week away? 2022 has, at times, seemed to move uncontrollably fast, and at other times moved frustratingly slow.  

What is your favorite Christmas memory? mine was in the mid-1980s when I received a Thunder Action He-Man, a toy with a tiny bit of gunpowder so that his powerful punches would spark; it was AMAZING!!! (https://youtu.be/VaPRd9aQSsU) I remember playing with this toy until he no longer worked. Conversely, I remember years of Christmas memories enduring the pain of scenarios that did not fit into the picture of the life that I had imagined. Frankly, emotions around the holidays can be a mixed bag. Whether you have a great family or a family that is struggling? We must remember that emotions are God-given and must be used appropriately. If the emotions of the holiday start to impact your presence with others, there is a simple process that can help you during these times of emotional unrest. To combat the negative emotions appropriately, think about Phil 4:8, which says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Refocusing our attention on truth, nobility, righteousness, purity, love, admiration, excellence, and praiseworthiness can help us snap out of these unwanted moments. Taking the time to think about the positive aspects of life can help us remember that though holiday emotions are a mixed bag, they do not have to occupy our hearts and minds.