Some of you may lose respect for me when I confess this, but I have to be honest. I do not like decorating for Christmas. Lots of folks love the whole process and find it whimsical and magical. (If so, please join us from 2-6pm tomorrow to decorate the church!) All I can think about it lugging the big totes up from under the stairs, making a big mess with the garland that will take forever to vacuum up, and how, when I'm finished, I still have to lug those totes back under the stairs... just to repeat the whole process in a few weeks. How negative is that?!

I know, I know, I can hear it. I can feel it. But Advent begins on Sunday and it is officially time to decorate for Christmas at the Dunham house. Will it be drudgery? Will I be cranky? Nope. Why? I will intentionally be reframing my thinking this week.

People often ask me how I can do so much public speaking without being nervous. The truth is, I can't. I'm always nervous. But I can reframe my thinking.

People often mention how they'd love to practice more hospitality and have people over but it's so stressful and their house is always a mess. Yeah, we all feel degrees of that; but we can reframe our thinking.

The most common thing you hear during the Christmas season is how busy everyone is, how crazy this season is, and how stressed people are. Perhaps... but we can reframe that, too. (And we don't have to do all the things either!)

By the time I get up to speak on a Sunday, I will have had a conversation with myself something like this: "Why are you doing this? What is interesting to you about this scripture? Why should other people hear about it? What's exciting to you about what God has for the church today?" And my nervous energy is transformed into excitement to share with you what I've been learning and what God's been showing me in the Word.

By the time I have guests over for dinner, I've had a conversation with myself like this: "If I ruin the food, we'll order pizza. They aren't here for my lasagna, they're here as friends, as family, as people worth spending time with. They aren't checking the dust on my bookshelf or the crumbs on my kitchen floor. They couldn't care less. It's going to be great to catch up with them." And my anxiety is reframed as gratitude for having a home and food and friends and family to share them with.

By the time I gather up my kids to decorate for Christmas this weekend, I will have this conversation with myself: "What a joy to transform this house to celebrate an amazing season. In a few hours there will be lights and garland and ornaments full of memories everywhere you look. The kids love this and will be so excited. It's time to step into that with them and enjoy the process." And my busyness slows down and turns to joy.

Of course, this is not a perfect formula. The mind, heart, and body don't always cooperate with my ideal outcomes. That's okay, too. But in all things, let me encourage you to reframe with the hope, love, joy and peace this season was built on.

“8 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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

— Philippians 4:8-9

Happy decorating!
Pastor Tracy

PS - Thank you so much for your response to our Christmas Hampers. All the items have been claimed and Pastor Erin will be looking to have them dropped off by this Sunday, December 1st. You guys are amazing!