Leaving Christmas Regrets Behind - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - November 17
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”-Philippians 3:13
Like Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” many of us have regrets about Christmas past, of holidays we missed spending with loved ones, or where we were too distracted to fully enjoy the time spent with them, forgetting to take the time to appreciate those around us, and missed opportunities with family and friends, days gone by.
Additionally, we often regret past gifts, whether given or not, for both those giving and receiving. This includes disappointment in what we gave and the feeling of letting others down, as well as in what we received that didn’t meet our expectations.
When a Gift Doesn’t Fly
Years ago, we gave one of our brothers-in-law a beautifully carved duck as a Christmas gift. It was excellent quality, chosen because of his love for the great outdoors, especially the waterfowl around the lake where he grew up and built a house.
But he didn’t seem to think it was very much of a gift, not something he liked, wanted, or had use for. As far as he was concerned, it didn’t seem to have any purpose to it, except to sit around and gather dust somewhere.
Of course, we felt bad about his initial reaction and that he was disappointed; wishing in the moment and looking back for years, we regretted that we had not gotten him something else. Since I picked it out, my husband had also been questioning my gift choice.
It May Take Some Time
Still, years later, he wrote us a note to tell us that although he didn’t appreciate the gift at the time, not seeing any purpose in having it just sitting on a shelf for years, over the years, he had come to really appreciate the value of it, enjoying seeing it on his shelf, and the special memories it reminded him of spending Christmas together.
Even though not all gifts given come to be appreciated over the years, like our brother-in-law’s duck, we can trust God that the disappointments we experience during Christmas pasts are not without value.
Although it’s rare to receive a note like the one we did, we can learn from the past, rather than letting regret have its way in our hearts and minds.
We can choose to hang on to past regrets, never be able to correct or fix them, or believe and trust God’s Word, as Romans 8:28 assures us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Perhaps someone will always dislike the gift we gave them, and those we didn’t appreciate spending time with in the past may have moved away or even passed away. Nevertheless, we can leave regret behind.
Sow New Christmas Memories
We can learn from the past how to appreciate and enjoy family and friends during the upcoming Christmas, how to truly cherish the time and experiences spent with them, and to make the most of it.
Like Hosea 10:12 urges, “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers His righteousness on you.”
We can start sowing new Christmas memories by giving our time and asking God to lead us and help us give from our hearts, because gifts from the heart have a way of enduring over time.
As Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
As we give to God, we can give to others this Christmas through our time and giving, as 2 Corinthians 9:7 urges, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Even if we don’t receive the response we receive when giving our gifts, including our time, we’ll have the comfort of knowing we gave them from our hearts.
Let’s Pray: Dear Father, free us from regret from Christmas past. Mend our hearts from disappointments and time gone by. Strengthen us to learn from the past and move forward with hope and joyful anticipation, sowing new Christmas memories. Lead us this year to give our time and gifts from our hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Join the iBelieve Truth discussion. Share how today’s message spoke to your heart and deepened your faith.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/SDI Productions
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Related Resource: Feeling Off? Why You Don’t Need to Hold Everything In (And What To Do Instead)
Do you tend to keep your feelings to yourself… especially when you’re upset? Maybe you tell yourself nothing will change, or you don’t want to affect others—so you stay quiet and carry it on your own. But even when you try to move on, something still feels heavy inside.
In this episode of Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast, Bonnie shares a personal moment of how she learned to express difficult emotions to release hidden stress she's been carrying. You’ll discover why holding in your emotions can leave you feeling stuck—and how sharing what you feel, even quietly with God, can help calm your body, bring emotional relief, and remind you that you’re not alone.
If you’ve been feeling “off,” this episode will help you gently release stress you're carrying and experience God’s comfort in a real, personal way.
If this episode brings peace to the storm in your heart, be sure to follow Breathe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
