Be Selfish this Christmas

Stop caring about other people so much this time of year.

OK, not really – but I had to get your attention somehow. Don’t ever stop caring about other people, this time of year or any other.

But I do actually want you to be more selfish. No, I don’t mean splurging on yourself with a grandissimo Roasted Chestnut Maple Butterscotch Chex Mix Mochachino from Starbucks*, although I could hardly blame you if you did. No, when I encourage you to be more selfish, I am not talking about spending more money on yourself.

I am talking about spending more time on yourself… with the One who gave you the gift of time in the first place.

Now just hear me out for a sec.

What have you got to lose by cracking open a Bible to Luke chapter 2 and giving the story of Jesus’ birth a read or a re-read? At the very least, doing so will provide you with a familiarity of what this season is all about for so many. You’ll also get to read the name “Quirinius,” and who doesn’t love reading that name over and over again?!? (fun fact: the name Quirinius just barely got beat out by Maximillian as the name of our first-born son).

What have you got to lose by attending that family-friendly event at your nearby church? Your kids might actually have fun, and you may even run into some not-really-all-that-weird people. Everybody wins! Besides, your kids are more than likely to score some sort of goodie, and since Christmas is still far enough away, you can probably manage to get even more mileage out of that goodie by stuffing a stocking with it or sticking it under the tree so your kids can experience the joy of receiving it all over again! Super-yay!

What have you got to lose by indulging your friend who keeps inviting you to her church’s Christmas Eve service? You’ll make her day by accepting, you could enjoy singing a Christmas song or two that you haven’t sung in years, and you may even benefit from hearing an uplifting and inspiring message. And who knows, maybe they’ll even be serving Roasted Chestnut Maple Butterscotch Chex Mix Mochachinos from Starbucks!**

*Not an actual drink… yet. Give it time to catch on.

**Still not an actual drink. Sorry, but it will need more time than that to catch on.