IS YOUR WORST HOLIDAY FEAR THE IDEA OF YOUR DINING TABLE FILLED WITH RELATIVES WHO ACT AS OPPOSING POLITICAL COMMENTATORS? Family get-togethers can be stressful enough, but with our culture fueled by hate, misunderstanding and inflammatory rhetoric, it can be downright nerve-wracking.
What will happen when your opinionated relatives sit down together? Instead of fretting over the worst-case scenarios, here are ten prayer strategies to help heal holiday hostilities.
1. Remember the reason for the season. Actually it’s not so much about football or pumpkin pie. It’s about gratitude and the celebration of the birth of the Christ child. Thank God for your blessings and for sending the Christ child not only for you, but for all those in your realm of holiday-influence.
2. Every person at your office party, on your Christmas card list and at your holiday table is a person Jesus loved enough to die for. Ask God to give you the ability to love them like He does.
3. If you are hosting or attending a get-together, pray in advance. Ask for God’s love and peace to permeate the atmosphere.
4. Pray over the room and each chair, from the dining table to the recliners, which will be used by those attending. Pray the chairs will be seated with peace and pray in the name of Jesus against the spirit of anger and hate.
5. Pray for your own attitude and ask God to give you the strength to brush aside hurts or offenses that could trigger an angry response from you. Make the decision to react in peace, no matter how tempting it is to defend your hurt feelings or bruised toes.
6. Pray for an attitude of forgiveness to rule your time with your loved ones.
7. If rough topics do come up, pray that God will give you and others strategies to redirect the conversation.
8. If you are offended, push past your grudges and ask God to show you what He wants to accomplish in your relationship with the one who offended you.
9. Thank God for this opportunity to have time to spend with family and friends. Tell those in your holiday party how glad you are to see them, and let them know how much you love them.
10. Banish the politics and other provoking topics from your table, and open your time together with a sweet prayer of love, forgiveness, gratitude and joy. Pray that the real reason of Christmas will enter into every heart.
It is only when we let Christ shine in us that friends and loved ones can see our Savior. Push the politics aside, and let Jesus shine into every holiday gathering. People may not remember who won the argument at the table, but they will remember whether or not you made them feel loved.
Southwest BREAKFAST BURRITOS by Penelope Carlevato @teatimepen
If you are having people over for breakfast or even extended family members staying the night, these burritos can be made ahead, wrapped in foil and heated in the morning.
¼ cup chopped onion½ cup butter, oil or cooking spray4 cups cooked and chopped potatoes12 eggs, slightly beaten1 teaspoon garlic powder1 teaspoon salt½ teaspoon pepper
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped mild green chilis (drained)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
12 tortillas – uncooked2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
In a large frying pan, sauté onions until clear and tender. Add the potatoes and mix with the onions. Combine the eggs and seasonings and pour over the potato/onion mixture. Cook and stir gently until eggs are cooked, then stir in the green chilies. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then drain any excess liquid from the eggs. Stir the beans into the eggs. Fry tortillas on both sides on medium hot griddle using the butter, oil or cooking spray.
Fill each tortilla with ½ to ¾ cup of egg mixture and top with 2 tablespoons of cheese. Fold the bottom end of the tortilla over the filling, then fold each side over the filling. Finish by folding the top edge tightly over both side folds. Place the buritto with edges down in a square of foil and cover tightly.
Refrigerate until reheating and ready to deliver. To warm burrito, heat in 250º F oven for 20 minutes.
Find great recipes like this in Penelope’s book: The Art of Afternoon Tea: From the Era of Downton Abbey