The Inside Story of “New Christmas Traditions” by Janis Cox 

When N. J. put out the call for stories for a new Hot Apple Cider Book, I hesitated.

How one family stopped stressing about Christmas and started enjoying it.

Each time there had been a call, I really wanted to submit something. But, each time, I changed my mind and pulled back.

Why? I guess it’s because I didn’t really believe I had any stories in me.

This year was different. I knew I did have a story! 

I used to find Christmas difficult because I was stressed—with the turkey dinner, with the gift buying, with the wrapping, with making sure everyone was given an equal present….

And as our family grew, the logistics made it harder and harder.

It finally came to the place where I knew I didn’t want to do this anymore.

You’ll have to read my story to figure out how I wrestled this problem to the ground. But the blessings that have come out of it are astonishing.

My husband and I are snowbirds; we travel to Arizona for 5-6 months for the warm weather.

Only once did we head to Arizona before Christmas, and therefore end up spending it alone. We won’t do that again.

Each year, we celebrate Christmas with our whole family early, then spend Christmas Day with just one family.

Not only do we have more time as a family to relax and enjoy one another, but we’re also teaching our grandchildren the real meaning of Christmas.

That’s a blessing. We need those connections.

We also look for new ways to celebrate Christmas.

My husband made this lovely Christmas scene out of exotic woods. We keep this with us in Arizona so we can remember the real reason as we approach the time of Christmas.

Creating hand-made Christmas cards can also bring more meaning to Christmas.

Here’s one I did a few years ago. It’s a watercolour batik painted on rice paper. The waxing technique helps save the light colours.

Another idea is to use the Christmas cards from the previous Christmas to pray for those people as we approach this special season.

As we go into the Christmas season, let’s look at ways to avoid the darkness of stress and instead focus on the Light.

What ways have you found to avoid stress and get the real meaning of Jesus’ birth into your celebration?

In 2008, Janis Cox started blogging as a way to express her faith. Today, she is the award-winning author/illustrator of the children’s picture books Tadeo Turtle and The Kingdom of Thrim. Janis also podcasts on Hope Stream Radio. Her talk “Growing Through God’s Word” can be heard each Tuesday. Janis is a member of The Word Guild, InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship, and American Christian Fiction Writers. A grandmother of seven, she lives in Haliburton, Ontario, with her husband and her dog, Snowball.

www.janiscox.com