9 Ways to Fill Your Home with Christmas Joy
It’s almost Christmas and many of us are looking forward to the holiday season more than usual. It’s been a tough year and we are ready for an opportunity to have some fun. Christmas will be different this year for many. But rather than grieve the things we can’t do, let’s fill our homes and hearts with the joy of the season. Here are nine simple ways you can fill your home with Christmas joy!
Music
One of the easiest ways to change the atmosphere in your home is to put on some music. With the modern wonder of the Spotify Playlist, it’s easier than ever to enjoy some Christmas cheer. You can search for and play some old favourites, or you can put together your own playlist pulling songs from various albums.
Just to be silly last year, we created a playlist of all the versions of Silent Night we could find. It went for hours! What’s your favourite Christmas song? Do a search on Spotify or the music provider of your choice and make a playlist that brings you joy. When the house is too quiet, or the television is depressing, put on your Christmas playlist and fill your home with the happy sounds of Christmas.
Food
Decorate cookies or bake mince pies. Try out a Christmas recipe you’ve always wanted to have a go at but have never had the time to risk it. Fill your home with the smells and tastes of joy.
Even now that my children are adults, we still enjoy decorating gingerbread houses together. We keep it simple and buy the gingerbread pre-made from IKEA and used premix royal icing to glue it together. We make a mess, laugh a lot and create precious memories.
Laughter
Laughter is good for our health! It releases all the good chemicals that promote healing and happiness. What makes you laugh? It may be a funny movie or comedian, playing a game with your children or spending time with friends. Plan to do something just for fun and have a good laugh.
Loved Ones
Celebrate together with others. Even if you can’t travel to your usual destination or get together with your own family for the holidays, don’t celebrate alone. Reach out to friends and neighbours nearby. Who can you invite to be a guest at your table this year?
If you are unable to be together physically with the people you love this Christmas set up a digital connection. There are lots of free tools that make it simple to video call. You can play games, read stories, or just eat, drink and chat. It’s not the same as being in the same room, but it is much better than staying isolated. Don’t let distance prevent you from spending time with those you love.
Beauty
Beautiful things bring us joy and heal our soul. Take time to notice, appreciate and enjoy beauty this Christmas. Decorate your home with pretty Christmas decorations, enjoy slow walks in nature, taking time to take in the wonder of our beautiful creation. Buy fresh flowers for your table, use your prettiest tea set and put on your sparkly earrings. Beauty is all around us, but often we are too busy or in too much of a hurry to notice. Allow beautiful things to fill your home and heart with joy.
Get Creative
You don’t need to be good at art and craft to find joy in being creative. Even simple creative pursuits are good for our mental health. Decorate cookies or make paper chains from pretty Christmas paper. Have a look on Pinterest for simple things you can create and have some crafty fun. I love making these paper origami star decorations for my Christmas tree. They make lovely gifts that fit easily into a Christmas card envelope. You don’t need to have children in your home to enjoy some Christmas craftiness.
Reach Out
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). When we are feeling down, we can tend to look inward and focus on our difficulties. Helping others gets our mind off our own troubles and fills us with joy. Look for opportunities to reach out and help others who are in need this Christmas. There are countless churches and community groups who need volunteer help, especially at Christmas. Do something kind for a friend or neighbour and experience the joy that giving can bring.
Gratitude
Cultivating gratitude is a powerful way to fill our hearts with joy. Get a pen and paper and start writing a list. Add to it each day. Put it in a prominent place in your home. Count your blessings and focus on all the good things in your life no matter how small they may be. When we focus on our blessings and fill our heart with thanksgiving, our troubles fade into the background.
Jesus
When the angels appeared to the shepherds in the field and announced Jesus’ birth, they declared, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). A relationship with Jesus fills our lives with joy! After many years, the wonder of the story of Jesus’ birth may have lost its lustre. More than ever, we need the joy Jesus brings this Christmas.
Let me encourage you, pray the prayer that King David prayed in Psalm 51:12, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” and take the time to reread the Christmas story. Start in Luke chapters one and two, and then read Matthew one and two. Reflect on the wonder of Jesus’ birth and the eternal hope we have because He came.
