How Heavy is Your Christmas Glass?

Earlier today I received a "forward" in my inbox. I did my usual skim through to see if it would interest me. The e-mail told a story of a professor standing up in the middle of the classroom holding a glass of water out, arms length from his body.

"Who thinks this is heavy?" he asked the class.

No response.

"Raise your hand if you think this glass of water is heavy." he repeated and still no response.

"It's never about what you are holding that makes it heavy, rather how long you hold on to it."

Its true, if you think about it. You could hold an envelope full of feathers at arm distance and after a while your arm will go weak.

The same is true for stress.

How many statistics do we need to hear to remind us that December is full of stress, depression, anxiety and loneliness for a lot of people? While we are caroling one minute, someone else is drowning their sorrows, grieving a death, or disappointed again by the hand they have been dealt. It can all be very depressing to think of foster children separated from parents or the houses who can't afford for Santa to visit.

Even on the flip side of those who are more fortunate, there are still often disappointments. We build up Christmas Day like we built up the prom. It's never quite what you dreamed it to be.

So, let the glass of water down for the season. Allow yourself to let some stress go, sit down that disappointment and don't pick up any expectations. The longer you hold on to those things the more you will hurt and grow weak. Don't attempt to confront everything that has done you wrong over the year, instead give yourself a "vacation" from your worries. The glass will still be there should you need to pick it up again. Or maybe, when you finally let go of it then God can carry out His plan. He can't take things from you; you must first be willing to set it down.