About the Author

Holley Gerth is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, counselor, and life coach. Her newest release is The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You. She's also wife to Mark, Mom to Lovelle, and Nana to Eula and Clem.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Love. I’m writing a letter to my son about Christmas traditions. He and his wife are expecting (twins) for the first time in March. I want to release him from any childhood tradition he might think he needs to hold onto. Letting him know that the only tradition I’ve ever had for him and his siblings was love. Love makes cinnamon rolls at 4am Christmas morning. Love fills stockings with thoughtful things each child will enjoy. I am hoping he sees over time it’s not the action as much as the heart of love behind the action.

    Thx for sharing today! ♥️

    • This article was so timely and spot on, but your reply… the gift you are giving your son is priceless. Someday, when my young adults are married and expecting, I think I will follow your lead and release them from the traditions I worked tirelessly to create. In doing so, I ran myself ragged because I thought that’s what a “SuperMom” would do. I know now, it isn’t.

  2. What awesome perspective this gives! And what a great question to ask not just ourselves but others. I’m looking forward to the great conversations to come when I ask others to consider “What is most important right now?” Bless you lavishly!

  3. Thanks so much Holly! I really do need to hear this and reflect on what I need to change. As I am older I especially need to guard my time as I run out of energy!!! May God bless you and yours and have a lovely Christmas. ❤️

  4. Intentional JOY- even when things are not easy or ideal. I seek joy in this season. Merry Christmas

  5. Love this, Ms. Holley. After my own season of burnout twenty years ago, I often and regularly pause and ask God to show me what is for my calendar for now and what I can take off it. Some seasons, we self-inflict our overextending. But I’m learning that in other seasons, we truly have no choice. In those times, I go from big picture semester/monthly/weekly prioritizing down to daily or hourly. Ok, Lord. What do you have for me today? What do you have for me to do just right now? He’s always helpful (and surprisingly merciful) when I ask Him to help me prioritize.

  6. Holley, Perhaps one important thing I should do is to share something important with our Incourage family. Most woman know that mammograms are not a fun thing to do and sometimes don’t get one if they do not feel a lump or bump in their breast. Well, I felt something like a small stick on my rib underneath my breast -it was breast cancer. None of the medical personnel had seen that before. I had surgery, radiation & chemo & took a tamoxifen pill for 8 years to prevent further cancer. It did not as the breast cancer mestatized into bone cancer, which is a death sentence. I have been getting treatment to keep it from spreading & to help with pain for over one year. My back hurts constantly. When I read what you wrote, I decided I needed to let this info get out to more women.. Better safe than sorry! God bless all!

    • My dear sister Frances, I am praying for you and will continue to do so. I do not know your struggle but I know your heart and I pray that God’s blessings will continue to keep you in His loving arms for that’s the only true safe place to be.

  7. Holly so well said. We can be wrapped in the world’s ways of Christmas. If not careful us that are saved. By buying presents. Spending far to much money on them. Getting caught up in the Christmas lights in our towns. The trees in our towns and home so beautifully decorated. Carol singing. But forgot the real meaning of why we have Christmas. It is all about a baby that was born in Manger no were fancy. Just a humble stable. He Jesus was the best present of all. Who went on to die on the best tree of all Calvary that was decorated with his Holy blood that was shed for all mankind. What greater love could our Lord have given us. So let’s not get caught up in the world’s ways of Christmas. But always remember the real reason why we celebrate Christmas. The best present and the tree of all that our Lord Jesus died on because he love us so much. That was as I said decorated with his blood that was shed for us. What greater love is there than this. So we have to make room for the king of the world Jesus especially if saved. In our hearts. Spend time with him in Prayer and Bible reading. Not get so busy especially at this time of year that we don’t have time for Jesus. As he always makes time for us. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xx

  8. I’m take time each day to be Thankful to God, & count my Blessings, instead of just floating thru my day.

  9. Holley,

    Now I’m working on sacrificial giving. Helping others any way I can. For Christmas I chose two senior angels (older adults) & purchased what they wanted plus some candy & hand lotion. Wanting to make their day as special as possible. I also volunteer with Loaves & Fishes Food Bank. Sometimes that looks like buying supplies, making food boxes, or simply putting meals together. What ever it is I want to help out & do my part & shine God’s light & love in this sin darkened world.

    Greater Vision has a song “Start with Well Done” that expresses my feelings. Here is a snippet of the Chorus When this life is over And the next ones begun I want it to start with Well Done!

    Have a Blessed Christmas everyone!!

    Blessings 🙂

  10. This year, I have been focusing on Prayer. Not just saying I will pray but actually stopping in the moment and sending a prayer or verse to others when asked or thought of.

    Prayer is powerful, I’ve witnessed many times “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.””
    ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

    In the midst of pain, death this year , I have still felt the nearness of the Lord through prayer. Thanks be to God

  11. Learning what to say no to and what to say yes to. Thank you for the reminder. Even when I’m doing it, I can forget. I had a friend in business that had a sign in her office that said “not even for you, not just this one time.” as her reminder to set boundaries.