Today is the 15th day of December. 10 days until Christmas. Chances are, if you are like me most days, you are feeling the crunch of time weighing in on you. Only 10 days left to make sure I have a gift for everyone! Only 10 days left to make sure I have the Christmas menu ready and ingredients bought. Only 10 days left to get this messy house in order!!
It’s so easy this time of year to put ourselves under pressure and to think we can accomplish more than any one human can and still come out of it looking spectacular and having people just rave on and on about how awesome we are!
Why do we do that to ourselves? Why do we put all of this unneeded pressure on ourselves to perform perfectly? Because when we walk away from reality, we are putting on a performance.
“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”
Proverbs 20:24, NLT
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”
Psalms 37:23, NLT
The best thing we can do each day is to wake up and in our quiet moments with the Father, pray that He would direct our steps. Then, even more important than that, we need to allow Him to do just that.
When we begin our day by giving it back to the One who blessed us with it in the first place and leaving it with Him, we can walk assured all day long that whatever comes our way, we are in the plans the Father laid out for us.
We can also remember that the ones who love us aren’t interested in the fanciest table spread or the lavish dinner that’s placed before them. They will be much more appreciative of the time spent in the kitchen listening to Christmas music and laughing and making way too much of a mess baking cookies.
Is it truly important that the Christmas tree decorations are balanced and hanging in the right spot or is it going to be much more enjoyable taking pictures while your little guys (or your older guys) decorate that tree in their own fashion? Even if it means you’ve got bare spots in some places and 50 ornaments in others. Think about the smiles you’re going to enjoy when everyone is in bed and you are looking at the tree just before you turn the lights off.
Give yourself permission to just stop. Stop and do the really important things. Spend time with your Savior–the reason we celebrate Christmas anyway. Spend time with that wonderful husband and those beautiful children He’s blessed you with. Call your parents, if you’re still blessed to have them with you. Grab a warm loaf of bread or some warm cookies and visit that neighbor across the street.
Remember….
” And while they were there, the time came for her Baby to be born. She gave birth to her first Child, a Son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”
Luke 2:6-7, NLT
…..if pure love and simplicity was how our Savior was brought into the world, then pure love and simplicity is the perfect way to celebrate Him .
Please drop in and say hi over at my blog! I’d love to have you visit!!
Blessings and Merry Christmas!!!
Deb
“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest Heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Luke 2:13-14, NLT
I'm so thankful that my friend Brandee posted a link over here. I need to give myself permission to "stop". I am a perfectionist. I am missing doing good in the pursuit of great. I'm also overwhelmed by all that must be accomplished in the next 5 days! (We have our family Christmas this weekend.)
Asking the Lord to remove the pressure and to place me purposefully in His plans for today.
Thanks for this encouragement,
Joy
What a great post! The business of the season is easy to get caught up in. I got sick last week because of being busy so much. This week I'm so glad we don't have as much. Last night I laid on the couch with just the lights from the CHRISTmas tree and candles, listened to CHRISTmas classical music, and read. It was wonderful!