How to Deal With Your Inner Grinch

The Advent season is a time of remembering the miracle of birth, how Jesus entering the world became the greatest plot twist ever written. It’s a time of turkey, family, sugar plum ferries, ornaments, Christmas trees, and Charlie Brown.

But sometimes the actuality of our life looks more like charred turkey, out of tune Christmas carols, and scantily clad tinsel. Sometimes life threatens to make a Grinch out of us. Sometimes pain, grief, hurt, disappointment, and loss, snuff out any candles of joy we had lit in our hearts.

Photo Credit: Mikaela Hamilton

What do we do when we find it difficult or nearly impossible to be thankful during the season of gratitude?

1. Find a safe place to let out your inner Grinch.

Maybe it’s in a journal, maybe it’s with a friend or family member, but find a safe place to say or write your Grinch’s thoughts. Stuffing your Grinch’s voice inside doesn’t make it disappear. Sometimes we need a place to admit when life sucks. It is sometimes this admission that can help us find hope and light in a dark season of soul.

2. Be honest with God.

I have prayed prayers to God and it seemed he hung them like ornaments on his tree of prayers, put them on the highest branch just above my height, and then asked me to reach for them. God is mysterious and no matter how much we study him there are some things about him our human brains will never truly understand.

God can take our honesty. He knows our thoughts anyway. So whether you have to cuss, bang your fist, or cry until your eyes are swollen, get a prayer through—even if all you can manage to say is “Help!” or “I don’t understand.”

3. Find your one thing.

Even on your absolute worst day, there is at least a sliver of life to be thankful for. On some of the days that life has hit me the hardest, I am thankful for tears and how they are a way my soul finds relief. In traffic, I’m thankful for India Arie songs to remind me that a smile can be a way to tell God thank you. Even if your inner Grinch refuses to make a gratitude list, think of one thing you can be grateful for and hold on to that.

Sometimes life isn’t all mistletoe and tinsel. Sometimes life is walking through each day with barely enough strength to hold on. Some days feel like more curse than gift. You are not alone. There is a God who sees all, knows all, and loves us all.

May Jesus, who entered the world as saving grace, bring peace, comfort, mercy, and love to you, and your inner Grinch.

How to Deal With Your Inner Grinch is a post from: Storyline Blog