Avoid the pressure of X-mas and make merry

NAIROBI: After the blessing of hosting the many unique and important visitors in the latter half of the year, Kenyans would be forgiven for feeling a little sense of deflation — what psychologists call “the post-event depression.” Thank God Christmas is here — the perfect season for peace and goodwill to all.

The only unfortunate thing is that Christmas has also become one of the most stressful seasons for many people. Global surveys show that stress-related problems reach their peak in the period just before Christmas. Cases of depression, mental breakdown, and even suicide are often on the rise during this season. Deaths and crimes of various kinds also seem to rise during Christmas. It is not uncommon in this country for accidents to be on the rise during this season. But why should this celebrative season bring with it such stress? Several reasons, but a few stand out.

First is the challenge of dealing with the unexpected. It is a fact that the Christmas season has often been a time of many surprises, sometimes resulting in serious misunderstandings in some families. For example, disagreements and quarrels over unexpected gifts are not uncommon. Yet, if the first Christmas is anything to go by, the season comes with many surprises.

Even for key players like Joseph and Mary, the divine conception not only caught them unawares, but also brought great strain upon their relationship. Joseph and Mary were at advanced stages of their wedding plans when Mary was found to be with child — an apparent gift from God.

Though Mary was overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of being the queen mother of a newborn king, for Joseph it was the worst nightmare of his life! For him, there were no jingle bells and no carols; only plans on how to deal with the matter quietly and expeditiously. But while asleep, an angel told Joseph, the gift was from God. Short of this intervention, the wonderful couple would have been totally torn asunder.

And so it is that at times, a strong suspicion can develop over a Christmas gift sent to a fiance, a wife, or a husband by another girl, man, or woman. This can readily turn one’s Christmas joy into a very stressful pain. If you are to survive, then, like Joseph, take a moment and sleep over your suspicions and quarrels. God might just reveal to you that there is really nothing to fight over. Relax and enjoy your Christmas.

Another common source of stress are unusual demands. Old parents may insist they must have all their children and grandchildren visit them in the village or at their house for Christmas.

This may mean cancelling your own holiday plans, taking an unplanned long trip home, or incurring unbudgeted expenditure. It can bring great stress to the family members, especially those whose Christmas plans have to be reorganised. Interestingly, it was no different for Mary and Joseph.

At the peak of Mary’s pregnancy, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. Everyone was required to go to their own town to register. So Joseph and Mary had to travel from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, in order to register. According to gynecologists, an expectant woman should not take long distance travels during the first and the last trimester. Yet, due to the decree, Joseph and Mary had to travel a three-days journey on a rough donkey ride! She ended up giving birth in a manger. How stressful it must have been for the couple.

And yet Matthew records that all these happened in order to fulfill what the prophet Micah had foretold about the ruler of Israel coming from Bethlehem. In other words, it is God who orchestrated all these events to accomplish His purposes. Which means that at times, God can stir up some very unusual activities even within the whole nation simply to get you to fulfill your destiny.

So, before you complain too much about that transfer at your place of work, or that call by your Dad to go for that family re-union, just saddle your donkey and set off for Bethlehem. Who knows what God may be up to? That untimely census may be God’s way of getting to fulfil His purpose in your life! Have a stress-free Christmas!