Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.
Colossians 3:23 (CSB)
If I’d never worked in advertising (or fundraising or publishing), I might think it was a little unrealistic. All the promotions and projects on the line at the holidays in our favorite Hallmark and Lifetime movies seem like a made-up plot device, don’t they? Who schedules can’t-miss meetings and client pitches a few days before Christmas?
Lots of people, apparently.
While I have never seen a real-life community concert or carnival scheduled for December 25, I have found myself working overtime mere days before Christmas. Sometimes that’s just when business is busiest, and deadlines don’t wait for all the shopping and baking and family-time-spending we really want to focus on during the holidays. This year is no different, as I’ve signed contracts to finish one giant project right before Christmas and one right after.
Work — and life in general — doesn’t stop for the holidays. In fact, it sometimes just doubles down on stress and schedules and “MUST BE DONE NOW” to-do lists. And sometimes, we do it to ourselves (or at least compound the problem ourselves).
Every year, I vow to avoid any unnecessary Christmas chaos. I promise to not even peek at Pinterest and its pretty bucket lists and delicious recipes. I unsubscribe from all the emails shouting at me about last-minute sales and commit to cutting back on how many times I look at the community calendars for one more festival to drag my family to. I pledge to keep it all simple, for once in my life.
And every year I break those promises — at least a little bit. So, on top of deadlines and meetings and events we truly cannot miss, I pile fun! And festivities! And more, more, more! Until my planner and my life look like an overflowing plate at Thanksgiving dinner.
It’s not a good look or a wise strategy for the season. So this year I’m trying a different approach. I still have intense deadlines, and our family has extra commitments for church and school. But rather than attempting to rein myself in and limit my “Let’s do it all!” tendencies, I’m going to be intentional about what holiday extras I lean into.
Rather than kidding myself that I’ll do a daily Advent activity with my daughters, I’m going to use the new Names of Jesus ornament book from DaySpring. It has seven ornaments with corresponding devotions. We may not be able to handle twenty-five days of anything, but seven? We can do that. (And bonus! I don’t have to mess with the teeny tiny tangled ornaments we normally use to decorate our small tree. I’ll throw on some garland, then we’ll add one of these ornaments each time we do a devotion. Easy peasy!)
Streamlining gifts is another way I’m going to be smart about going all in this holiday. I bought dozens of mugs on clearance after Christmas last December, and they are lined up on my basement shelves, waiting to be filled up with candy (big bag from Costco for the win!) and handed out to anyone and everyone. Teachers, nurses, friends, neighbors — everybody’s getting a mug this year!
Finally, in an effort to hang onto my sanity and spirit this holiday season, I’m holding a family meeting before the festivities begin. I can’t promise I’ll pry my mittens off the steering wheel for this busy season, but I do think bringing my family into the planning process (and priority setting) will be a good thing.
I can’t change my December deadlines, but I can decide to do the rest of the holiday season differently. And if your planner is also full of can’t-change commitments, you can still control some of the Christmas chaos, too. Lean into what you — and your family — love, and let the rest go. Know going into the holidays that life will be hectic, then choose the chaos you’re willing or able to handle. Give however you can, and choose gratitude when your inner Grinch threatens to come out. And enjoy the season, even when it’s busier than the mall on Black Friday.
May your season be as blessed as it is busy, as happy as it is hectic, friend! Happy holidays!
God, this time of year can be so busy and hectic that I forget what it’s all about. Keep me mindful of You as we zoom from one thing to another, and give me wisdom to know when to slow down and say no. Please help me meet my deadlines and commitments while still saving time to enjoy my family and friends and worship You, the true reason for this season. Amen.
This is an excerpt from Fake Snow & Real Faith: A 10-Day Devotional Inspired by Holiday Movies by (in)courage’s very own Anna Rendell and Mary Carver. For your FREE copy of the full devotional, visit HookedonHolidayMovies.com.
Lean into what you — and your family — love, and let the rest go. -@marycarver: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
I’ve added mugs to my after-Christmas shopping list, Mary, so thanks for that good tip!
And I’m promising myself to do better scaling back in the next two weeks leading up to Christmas than I’ve done in the past 8 days…
I hope you’ve been able to find some rest as we get closer to Christmas Day, Michele!
Todays reading is class. It speaks volumes to me. You know what comes to mind to mind to me. This is nothing to do with Christmas. But in my Church the Salvation Army where I live. We have a Ladies group that meets once a month on a Wednesday evening. We have a cup of tea and we bun or biscuits at the end of it. Because I don’t drive. I did at one time. Because of health reasons years ago I don’tnow. My husband comes in to collect me at the end. I have been so long away from driving I never want to drive again. Anyway. It seems to be me and my husband anytime we use china cup for the tea at the end of TLC the ladies group in our Chruch that end washing them. One day my Husband was tried because of his work. He said just to me. No one else could hear him. As we where at home. Why can’t or why does no one else bother only me and you any time the Salvation Army Officer uses China cups. Not disposable ones. Ever offer to wash them. Especially when they could give us brake for once. Don’t get me wrong he said I don’t mind washing them. But I only in to collect you. I should not be helping out at all. They are all glad of the tea afterwards he said. I said Deer look at it this way. Forget about them. God see what they are doing and how on caring they are. We are not too judge what they do I said to him. They are glad to come too TLC for the fellowship. Plus the cup of tea at the end. Then I said this and this we bit changed his mind. I said forget about them remember your not washing the dishing on to TLC you are doing it on to Lord. The Lord will bless you for it. My Husband then said you know what Dawn you are so right. Everything I do in life is not about me. It should be about the Lord. So next time he had to wash the dishes after TLC. He said Dawn lets do the dishes. I knew he was doing them on to the Lord and the Lord would bless him for doing that. Even if it not this side of earth but in Glory one day. The Lord see thoes people in TLC who don’t bother to help that can help. Yes don’t let people at the same time use you. Sometimes pray to God. Ask God do this or go to this place with my Family or Friends want me to go too. Just to please them. God might tell you to say no if you don’t want to go don’t go. God could tell you it not very Christian where they want you too go. Through his Holy Spirit. You God will reward you for praying about it and listing to his Holy Spirit as to what to do. Your Friends or Family may not like you for saying no if you have too. But you have to sometime do what is right for you and by God. Not always be a people pleaser. Excellent reading. Dawn Ferguson-Little xxxx
Sweet ♥
And sweet husband 🙂
Serving others while also doing what’s right for me in the Lord is a tough balance to find, for sure. Thank you for sharing your heart and your experience, Dawn!
Well said, Mary! I hope it works out for you. All we can do is try. And you have a plan. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you, too, Irene!!
Oh how I can relate to this post! With Thanksgiving so late this year and coming back to the office after a four day break, I knew preparations for Christmas and year-end planning would be waiting for me on Monday morning. With the help of my team we had many of our tasks checked off before we left the office on Wednesday. Open enrollment, employee gifts ordered and scheduled for delivery, bonuses calculated…I was ready to face December with a sense of peace. Then the announcement came, an acquisition! So between Christmas programs, office parties, church activities I will be welcoming a new division to our company. I am delegating Christmas tasks for our family to my adult children, embracing Christmas music and thankful the for ornaments hanging on my tree that remind me of the blessing of Christmas over the year. Just because it’s Christmas, real life doesn’t stop. But I have control over my attitude and pray that each day the Holy Spirit will fill me peace and calm and the true Joy of Christmas will be reflected in my words and on my face. Wishing you a blessed Christmas season!
Audrey, I hope the transition is going well at work! Merry Christmas!
Sometimes we get so caught up in the giving, that we forget the real purpose of it. I come from a family of teachers, and I can assure you that the last thing they want at Christmas is gifts. How many mugs, candies, candles, and bath soaps, etc. can they really use. A heartfelt card, decorated by your child, is far more appreciated. I know it is the thought that counts. I still remember a friend commenting after clearing out her mothers house when she passed on. In her dresser were all the gifts they “thought” she needed, unopened. She kept telling them she did not need anything, but they felt they had to give something. Folks, rethink you gift list and why you are giving. Personally, I believe the one item most people want from those that matter to them, is the one item we so seldom give – us, our time, our most valuable item. Time is precious to everyone. A note with a date to have coffee together, or a note with a date to take them shopping, or a movie, or a walk in the park; a note asking how you can help in the classroom. I know what I want for Christmas, more time with the people I love., not just now but throughout the year.