If Christmas has ever overwhelmed you, stressed you out, made you feel like you don't measure up, revealed how completely inept your decorating abilities are, and left your house smelling like burnt slice and bake cookies- Read on sister!
If however, you are Martha Stewart, June Cleaver, or Betty Crocker- this post may stress you out and make you want to shake your finger at me while saying, "tiss, tiss, tiss."
But you'll be sad if you hit that little red X and close out of this site before reading today's post. Because the Give Away is the BEST YET!!! And yesterday's winner is announced below, so read on.
First, here's my recipe for Christmas Ahhhh instead of Christmas Urgggg!
Going into the attic.
What a mess. I’ll put cleaning it out on my resolutions list in January. But, even as I write it down I’ll know that I probably won’t ever get around to it… again.
Digging through the attic.
Opening up one of the many unmarked Christmas decorations boxes I discover that candles got stored in this one last Christmas. Too bad that there’s this season called summer that comes before Christmas rolls around again. Note to self: an attic that reaches temperatures upwards of 100 degrees is probably not the best place to store things made of wax.
Pulling down the fake tree.
Trees weren’t meant to be manufactured by man. It amazes me that God makes trees every day. I only have to assemble one a year and get totally overwhelmed trying to figure out where all the branches go. It would probably help to read the instruction manual but one would have to know where said manual is to actually read it. I’m sure I put it in safe place so that I’d be able to find it and read it in all my spare time. The problem is I have too many safe spaces in my home. Note to self: right after you clean out the attic in January, go buy a big…really big…plastic box, label it “safe place” and put things in it that you know you are otherwise going to lose.
Happy, happy, decorations time.
Each year I have Norman Rockwell visions of our family decorating the tree. But my need for balance and order just won’t let me leave the tree the way my kids decorate it. So, I find myself chastising my need for perfection the whole time I’m moving my favorite ornaments to front and center, straightening the angel, and hiding the ugly ornaments in the back of the tree. Of course the prettiest ornament will get broken, baby Jesus will go missing from the manger, and all my candle holders will be void of candles because of my attic fiasco mentioned earlier.
Menu Shemenus.
People who are organized Christmas people have these things called menus. They plan big parties with appetizers and nuts and homemade candies. I am more of a covered dish kind of girl. I don’t need a well planned menu to make my stomach happy at celebration time. I just need to invite people to my gatherings who like to cook and mask my laziness by calling it a covered dish dinner. This is one of the most fantastic ways to have people over for holiday meals as long as you invite people who like the same kind of food as you do. Note to self: Remember who brought that horrid pumpkin shrimp soup last year and cross them off the invite list. Oh but wait, I think that might have been me in some insane moment of feeling slightly gourmet. Second note to self: You are not allowed to watch the cooking channel during the holiday season so to avoid any such inspired disasters.
Trinkets, treasures and that perfect gift for grandma.
I have two words for my shopping list this year… gift certificates. Enough Said.
My attitude.
Am I having a bad attitude for Christmas this year? Well, no, actually all of the above things used to make me have a bad Christmas attitude but not this year. “It is what it is.” That’s my new Christmas motto. For me to write an article pretending that adding all this to my already overcrowded to-do list makes me happy, happy, happy, would be fake, fake, fake. So, it is what it is. Doing some of these things actually does make me happy. Some of them are truly annoying. But the most important part of it all is keeping the main thing the main thing. I love Jesus. I love my family. I love celebrating Jesus’ birthday even if my preparation for it will never be written up in the Who’s Who for Christmas Planners. It is what it is and that has helped me turn my Christmas Ugggh into a Christmas Ahhhhh!
What about you? Is there something you need to let go of or tone down with your Christmas preparations this year? Post a comment below how you'll turn your Urghhhh moments into Ahhhhhh moments and it will register you for this awesome (and very generous) giveaway by an amazing author and friend of mine- Susie Larson.
BUT FIRST YESTERDAY'S WINNER!!!!!
DRUM ROLL PLEASE--- BONITA! Congrats! You won a P31 Tote and my two marriage books, "Capture His Heart" and "Capture Her Heart." E-mail my asst. Holly at Lysa1@Proverbs31.org to give us your address and we'll send you your prize right away.
NowFOR TODAY'S GIVEAWAY... here's Susie-
Hi There, Friend,
I hope your soul is nourished and your day is blessed by the gift pack I’ve put together for you.
Here’s what you’ll be receiving in the mail from me:
· A vintage looking watch that wears like a bracelet. I have a wonderful boutique near my home and I love their watches! This watch is to remind you that your time is a gift. Cherish every moment! (Please let me know if you want the watch in gold or silver).
· Mint Foot Lotion for your blessed, but weary feet.
· A copy of my book, “Balance That Works When Life Doesn’t: Simple Steps to a Woman’s Physical & Spiritual Health" – Take your time reading this book. It’s loaded with encouragement and practical tips that will help you care for your physical and spiritual health.
· A copy of my book, “Alone in Marriage: Encouragement for the Times When it’s all up to You” - Even the strongest marriages go through one-sided seasons. Because life ebbs and flows, so does marriage. This book addresses the woman’s spiritual journey through a one-sided season. You’ll learn to wrap your arms around this time knowing that God has His arms around you.
· A copy of my CD message: “The Incredible Power of our Choices” Your choices matter because YOU matter; from the thoughts you entertain, to the things that you say and do; from the people you walk with to your walk with God. This CD will remind and challenge you to make your choices count.
· A Choxie Chocolate Bar - Just because…
Author Introduction:
Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m a wife of almost 23 years and have three almost grown, beautiful sons. I am an author, speaker, and a freelance writer for Focus on the Family. My husband and I have partnered with recording artist Sara Groves and her husband Troy to co-chair the annual fundraising banquet in Minnesota for the International Justice Mission. IJM is a powerful organization that among other things, rescues young girls from the horrific life of human trafficking. Twenty-five percent of the royalties from my “Alone” book will go directly to IJM. Please encourage your friends to pick up a copy!
Christmas Encouragement:
When I speak at Christmas events, I often give the message titled, “Wishing You a ‘Selah’ Holiday Season. The word “Selah” means to pause…and take it in. After spending many months in bed battling a devastating disease, followed by caring for my husband who endured his own battle with cancer, we have come to understand the gift of time and the value of the moment. This season…slow down long enough to catch snowflakes on your tongue. When your children laugh, laugh with them. Sit by the tree and enjoy an instrumental CD. Sit across from a friend and be completely present in the conversation. Relish the fact that Jesus is crazy in love with you because He is.
I wish you a Selah Holiday Season!
Susie Larson
To visit Susie's website click here
To visit Susie's blog click here
64 Comments:
That came at the perfect time! I am usually up to my elbows in preparing for Christmas by now, and I haven't been "in the mood". I am ready to start decking the halls while remembering what the season is all about and why I truely love it!
Ahhh...Christmas! This year I give up the "need" to put out every Christmas decoration we own. We have decorated with about half so far. The kids are happy with it so even if I don't get more decorating done I will be happy with what we have done so far too! I will also give up the idea that the house needs to be cleaned up before I allow myself to do a Christmas craft or baking with the kids. We have three little ones. The house most likely will not be completely picked up for well, years! :o) Finally, this year I will get my sister-in-law what I know she will like for Christmas and will not worry that the gift is too much (so that she won't feel bad if she spent less) or too little (so that I won't feel like my gift was not enough). Glad to know I'm not the only non-Martha Stewart out there!
I think what I stress about the most is Christmas Eve Dinner. This year I have a new job and I am passing the tourch. Todays message confirmed what I have been feeling. It is not important to have the perfect meal. I am going to celebrate the real meaning of the season, the birthday of my Savoir!!!!
I came across your blog through my daily Prov.31 e-mail! I was so touched by what you shared. I truly believe God speaks to people in different ways, and many times I wish I heard Him more clearly, but I know I need to be a better listener! Stories like that give me goose bumps! I love hearing how God works in others' lives.
I love what you share about Christmas ... I can SO relate to all of it! And I laughed about the tree, I totally decorate the tree the same way and we all end up frustrated ... the kids want to help, and I want it to be perfect. Not this year ... I'm going to let things go, no matter how painful it is! This is going to be an Ahhhhh Christmas for us ... no matter what! Ha, ha!
Thanks for your faithfulness to God to share what He gives you to share! I am so thankful I found the Prov.31 e-mails. Now to find time to read all the blogs!!
Anita Matejka
To make my Christmas an AAhhh Christmas instead of an Ugggh Christmas, I plan on revamping our Christmas gift list. It seems to me that I sometimes make a 180 degree turn around from thinking about what I am thankful for to thinking about what I want…NO, I mean what we want to give! Isn’t that what it seems like though? It seems I go from the focus of thanksgiving directly into spending time figuring out how to satisfy my wants, my children's wants, etc... This year, I am taking my best shot at trying NOT to do that. Let me share a story with you that brought this about.
My daughter decided to ask for a Wii game system for Christmas. She started out saving her own money for this popular gaming toy, but soon realized that it was well beyond the reach of her 13 year old budget. After doing some odd jobs and a large babysitting job, she had saved a good deal of money, but not even half of what she needed to purchase the system, the remotes, and a game or two. So, she decided that this would be the big ticket item on her Christmas list. When she approached her frugal father about her wishes, he explained to her that it was a nice thing to ask for, but not to get her hopes up. Santa has two kids in college, one of whom is graduating right before Christmas. Knowing that funds would be tight, he tried to direct her attention to other things but she began to get a little testy with him. As I listened to the demands of our 13 year old, it dawned on me - the Christmas wish list has become a shopping list and I decided that I would need to do something to change our perspective on this big holiday of giving.
As I reflected, the season of Thanksgiving was still forefront, and the word that kept coming to mind was contentment. I thought about the Apostle Paul and his words on the subject.
Philippians 4:12 says:
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
How could I possibly teach this to my children? How could I live by this myself?
These questions filled my head for days. I wonder how Paul would have sounded if he had the attitude of my children, or even me. Keep in mind this is a man who spent more time in jail than he did out of jail. And he was serving the Lord, not working for himself. That in itself is challenging enough, but add to it his attitude of contentedness instead of entitlement. He wrote letters of all different types to all different people and they are recorded in scripture. Funny, I have not read anything that sounds like this:
“Dear Believer’s at Philippi, Would you hurry up and see what you could do about my situation? I have been in this prison for way longer than I expected and I really don’t deserve to be here at all. It is a dump and I don’t even have cable t.v. It is about time that I get what I deserve…after all, I have been serving other people all of my working life!”
Can you even imagine?
How many of us sound this way? Not just on our Christmas list, but in every day life?
As a result of my evaluation, the gift list of my family members may not include anything over $50. We are sponsoring an elderly person at a nursing home, we are taking part in toys for tots, we are sending a box to a serviceman overseas, and we will try to get to the homeless shelter to serve a meal. All of our children will participate in these things. And we will continue our thanksgiving realizing that not only should we be content, but thrilled with the blessings we already have. And the Christmas gifts that we give to one another will be totally out of love, not entitlement!
Reading your blog this morning just confirmed these thoughts and I plan on sticking to it to make our Christmas more Ahhhh than Ugggh when it comes to gift purchases!
Thanks, Lisa.
Merry Contented Christmas!
Ahhhh!
Lysa ... Thank you for your concern and ministry for women. Due to a neuromuscular disease, I am unable to go shopping like in the past .... that can be a good thing or a bad. My physical limitations often add stress to my complicated life. I have learned to shop online or catalog shop with phone-in orders which alleviates some of the stress with holiday and/or birthday shopping. But it's important to first and foremost, remember to pray about our financial situations and ask God to help us to be good stewards of the money He has entrusted to us. This helps to keep the focus on what the season is truly about and keep money spending under control. God bless for a happy and peaceful holiday season.
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
In my search to make this an Ahhh Christmas, I have chosen to give up the stress of decorating at my own house since I will not be home much if at all during the holidays and give my time and efforts to helping decorate at my mom and grandma's where I know it will be greatly appreciated and I will be spending a good deal of my time in there homes throughout the holidays. I plan to ask my dad to read the Christmas story from one of the gospels so our family can remember the TRUE reason for the season before we all get wrapped up in our own wants and traditions. God has placed it on my heart this year as in the past few years to buy gifts that will light up the faces of the recievers rather than worrying oh this costs more than my budget will allow. My Christmas gift list is different this year with the addition of my boyfriend and his 3 children. I haven't even met them yet but through pictures and listening to him share about them I have purchased each of them the perfect christmas gift with love and eagerness to finally see them face to face.
My prayer today is that God will show me how to become less so He can become MORE.
Merry CHRISTmas ya'll!
Janet Reno
jjreno@localnet.com
To make our Christmas more giving than receiving I created "21 Days of Blessings" for our family. For 21 days in December we intentionally bless someone else. This has really helped our son learn about giving. We have been doing this for 5 years and I really look forward to this year.
Thank you for the give away, it looks great.
I'm always hearing other people's great traditions to make the holiday meaningful and then trying to incorporate these ideas into our family plans. The problem is, this doesn't make the holiday more meaningful, it makes it more maniacal! So, we'll stick with simple old-fashioned traditions this year. Nobody else's ideas - just my favorite things to do.
This year God has been working on my heart and in my life as normally I am a Christmas "Grinch." This year however, I am doing my best to make my home a place where Christ is not only welcome but evident in everything that me and my family do. My prayer through this season is that Christ will be present, that I will ensure time to be a "Mary" and sit at his feet. Martha has been banished from my home. (Not only the Martha in the Bible, but the 'Stewart' one as well!) I am doing minimal decorating and much more telling of the Christmas story to my son. I try to find at least one thing each day to relate to the Christmas story. For example, today I plan to light some Christmas candles and share with my son and husband about how Jesus came to earth as the Light of the World. (From John 1:9 MSG) Then tomorrow, the first day of Advent, I am going to get out the nativity set and read the Christmas story together.
This year, I want to make sure that our family is focused on HIM!
Hey Lysa,
It is so easy this time of year to think about what we don't have instead of counting our blessings (isn't that part of a Christmas carol, "counting your blessings instead of sheep"). I had a thought the other day while decorating and beginning to feel a little bit stressed, "its not about what we want for Christmas its about what we already have been given! We have been given the best present of all- JESUS! No gift we could ever give or receive matches that or could even come close, and that is what we need to share this season while we are counting our blessings! If our children get it then it is a HUGE Ahhh!! Merry Christmas & Blessings!
I used to be the woman who wanted my tree decorated just so--every ornament in the perfect place, etc. I have been known to "redecorate" the tree after my family had gone to bed. This year with all my family grown and gone, I have been working on the tree and find myself longing for little hands to put ornaments in the "wrong" places.
Hello,
I get stressed each year from all the things I "should" do. All of the church productions, Women's Ministry, kid's programs, invites to friend's houses, gingerbread making party, sledding party, and the list goes on and on. They are all good things, fun things. But things that stress me out. I long to be home with my kids in front of the fireplace, reading Christmas books and enjoying hot cocoa. Moving at a slower pace. So, this year, I have vowed to say NO.....I may miss out on some really great things, things that can enrich our walk with God and things that are beautiful, BUT...I will enjoy my kids and husband, enjoy peace and realx and NOT feel guilt for saying NO.
Kelly in Michigan. sitesx6@aol.com
Girl, you can totally count me in! You had me at the chocolate bar, but I would LOVE the watch. :-)
Okay, apparently I just became anonymous... That's me!
This year my family and I aren't so wrapped up in the "gift" part of the season. Living in an overseas military community, we don't have many choices, we don't have teh sales flyers, we don't have the TV commercials. We're making it more about God and family, and less about stressing over the perfect gift.
I have always been the type to redecorate the tree after the kids have gone to bed. I like to do a lot of baking as well. But this year I am leaving it alone. My husband is in drug rehab this year, so I don't have the time nor the resources to do all that we normally do. Just getting the everyday things done is all I can handle now. So Christmas is going to be much simpler. I am not going to stress over the Christmas list and how much of it gets done or purchased. As you said, "it is what it is". If it gets done great, if not then I'll just praise God for what did.
The verse God has given me is Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God".
I just have to be still and watch as God works through things in my life. And He does everyday!
Thanks for your encouragement!
JJ
I realize the need this year to not get stressed by all that needs to get accomplished but instead spend more time drawing into His presence!
Sounds like a great give-away! Please count me in for this one! Some I would keep and some I would share with my girlfriend. Thank you for your kindnesses, Lysa and Susie!
Lysa, I loved your blog today and I had to laugh about moving the ornaments on the tree. My 10 yr. old daughter recently made a comment about how the "kid" ornaments are simply mixed in and not so obvious on the tree....I guess I should enjoy the fact that someone notices and cares about the tree (besides me) and let it go. Boy isn't that hard when we have our vision of how the tree should/could look--Thank you to the woman who said she longed for somone to want to rearrange the ornaments - as her kids are grown.
I also liked your comment "It is what it is"....I am a single Mom with 2 kids and the "Holidays" have not been what I dreamed they would be for my children/family, not the legacy I wanted to leave for my kids, but "It is what it is," so I continue to try and lay it down, Trust God and do the best I can. I am Thankful to have understanding kids that have learned, "It is what it is" and to go with the flow.
Thanks for your sense of humor and words of encouragement !
God Bless !
Wonderful post, Lysa. It's called Christ-mas, not Stress-mas, right? Thanks for reminding us! And Susie, you're the sister of my heart!
Blessings to you both . . .
What a perfect time for this post. A great reminder to focus on what's REALLY important this Christmas season. It's not the perfectly-decorated house with the perfectly-placed lights inside and out, it's the fact that God chose to send His son to the world for US! Wow.
Thanks for this post,
Liesl
I could have written this post myself as Martha Stewart I am not! The resolution I am making this Advent season is to keep first things first. Advent is a wonderful time to saturate yourself and your family with God's Word. I'm committed to making Advent family devotions a priority! I'll read with the kids and sing hymns with them in the morning (Joni Eareckson Tada's Christmas Hymns for a Kid's Heart), and we'll read and sing together at night when we also do our Jesse Tree and light the Advent wreath (provided I can find some candles that aren't melted)! If nothing else gets done and I never bake a single cookie, or make a single craft, fine! My true desire is to be completely saturated in God's Word and deliberately mindful of HIM this season. (And my prayer is that it will overflow into 2008 and we can continue to make such a priority.)
Angel
I loved your reminder!!! We as a family are getting ready to head into the mission field next month for 4 years. My whole Christmas has been about making it perfect casue it will be our last one for so long. THANKS for the reminder to change my focus!!
Each year, because we are the only 'children' in town, we shuffle between our two families - going from one house to the next. Unfortunately, one side of the family always feels left out, and rather than focusing on the true spirit of Christmas, we have to figure out how to split our time perfectly. This year, however, we have decided that we're going to host a Christmas dinner for *both* sides of the family to try to draw everyone closer and make sure everyone is included. Best, Cee
P.S. I thought about it a little more and decided that I would give up making cookies at the last minute and making my husband stay up past midnight frosting them with me. I'm sure he'll appreciate it! :)
Angel
I am feeling so inspired to really enjoy the season this year. I am determined not to get caught up in the spending frenzy! I was in such a state last year, I didn't even get to put up my beautiful(artificial)
tree....it even has bark.
Anyway, this year is going to be different. I went up to the rafters of my garage and pulled it down and set it up. Oh Oh, my
living room now smells a little too much like a garage,pu, and the lights are half burnt out. I don't care...the tree will air out and
I will go and get new lights.
That could have gotten me down, but
I didn't let it. Your message came at just the right time. I feel you cheering me on!
Thanks for your wise words!
Dara
I cut down the gift list. My girlfriend and I decided not to buy gifts for eachother's kids. There's nothing they need and we don't need the added stress. We'll enjoy spending time together at the holidays (which is getting harder to come by these days).
Last year I committed to have a "Mary" Christmas in the midst of a "Martha" world without guilt for traditions I couldn't get done. (Christmas cards that went out with New Year's wishes) I plan to continue the commitment this year--seeking to find more of Jesus and and His truth in this season and pass it along to my family and friends. Here's to an ahhh Christmas with Christ at the center where He should be!
Thanks Lysa! For some reason, we decided to redecorate our living room at the moat inconvvenient time of all this year, the week after thanksgiving! UUGGHHH!!! I have been painting all week and am worn slap out! Thanks for reminding me that is does not all have to be "picture perfect" in order to have a beautiful holiday.
We have made a family pact to keep spending at a minimum this year, because we all already have what we need anyway. We are participating in a huge event our church has called "Give Christmas". It is a time where we actually give Christmas to families who otherwise could not afford to give gifts to their kids for the holidays. We already have over 100 families signed up to receive. It is such a blessing to see the faces of those people who are able to see God's love in action as they are given gifts through this wonderful event. That is what makes Christmas "picture perfect" and beautiful! Forget my living room!
Thanks for being such an inspiration to all of us, Lysa. we appreciate you!
Blessings,
Starr
Last year, I was sad most of the time during the holidays. My marriage had collapsed and I was on the verge of tears all of the time. This year, we are separated. But you are right. "It is what it is." This Christmas, I am looking up instead of down. I have put my marriage in God's hands and I will celebrate my blessings and be thankful. I will teach my young girls about unconditional love and how God gave us his only son. Through Him, all things are possible.
I grew up absolutely LOVING Christmas. I loved being around my family and friends and going to church to celebrate Jesus' birth on Christmas Eve. I'm now 21 years old, in college, and applying to graduate schools. I'm pretty much spent. This was the first year that I didn't help at all with the decorating in my house because I just don't have the energy. (I realize I'm not in the "real world" yet, but applying for grad school while trying to do all your other homework and holding a job is pretty tiring)I'm so glad I read this blog because it helped to remind me that my relationship with Jesus and spending time with my family are what makes this season so special. On a day when I've just about had it, this was a great reminder...thanks!
Well, ladies, this is the first time I have "blogged" and I definitely appreciate the p31 ministries. Christmas this year is very different for my family. We will be doing advent for the first time this year, and I am also doing a jesse tree (with my 5th grade class as well). But more importantly, we are together as a family. My husband and I had separated in March of this year, and I truly believed that I would be divorced by now because my husband wasn't saved and things weren't going well. However, we have a mighty, awesome God and not only is my husband now saved and living for the Lord, but God has renewed our love for each other as well. I am so blessed and thankful at all the Lord has done! After 9 years of marriage and financial struggles, hearing my husband say that being together as a family is much more important than worrying about how we'll be able to "buy gifts" this year is the second best gift I have ever received. Of course, the first was the birth of our Savior!
Merry Christmas ladies!
Jeremiah 29:11 (my life verse)
When we moved this summer (#3 in 4 years), we *downsized* with a vengeance. We looked at the huge number of bins filled with Christmas decorations and I finally faced the fact that I dreaded putting out all that stuff each year. There were so many pieces that I had been given as gifts over the years and I felt like I had to keep even though I really didn't like them or they took up too much space. So I took the time to open up each box, spend a few moments admiring each piece and remembering the people who gave them, then I tossed them in a big bag and took them to the dumpster. I even secretly got rid of the annoying Santa that sang, which made me do some singing of my own :-) This season, I put out all the decorations in one short afternoon and we really enjoyed doing it. My house is not the seasonal wonderland that my mother's home is, but it's enough for us and it fits our lifestyle so much better.
Since our kids are pretty content with our decorations being only the tree so far, I am considering finding my Christmas Ahhhhh in leaving much of the other decorations in the boxes and returning them to the attic so that I can spend time with my kids working on a Nativity lapbook so that we can focus on the real meaning of Christmas.
In Christ,
Sherry
As I quickly and hurriedly sit down to check my e-mail between the many tasks on my "to-do" list ... the give-away catches my eye. Then I read the comments posted by the many women and am reminded of the importance of perspective and priorities. While Christmas is a very special time, our lives should be lived no differently than any average day. As the old children's Sunday school song goes: J-O-Y ... Jesus first, yourself last and other in-between. I pray for Jesus, the one who loved me (and you) enough to come to this earth, to be first in my life. Then I wish for others to be a priority while watching for and seizing opportunities for God to bless them through me. What a privilege to be loved AND used by the Father. Merry Christmas everyone! And thank you for the prompting to PAUSE, slow down and reflect on the reason for "the season" and for the "every day".
Christi :)
Reading this entry and the comments made me realize how common some experiences and attitudes are among women! I laughed about the candles melting, and I appreciated the concept of "it is what it is", as well as the acknowledgement that some of it is going to make us happy, some of it will be annoying, but the important thing is to keep the first things first. I love so much about this season- the lights and the music, the special things and treats we only enjoy during this season. I push through shopping/wrapping- I love the giving and the anticipation of the recipients. The older I’ve gotten, the more successful I’ve been at discerning which things that I expend energy, time and money on are the things that really bring me or my loved ones joy. After a few years of doing the bare minimum in an effort to simplify and keep my focus on Jesus, I found that I missed some of those things that made Christmas special to me and mine….. and slowly added things back… now, I do what is comfortable- the things I love and a few of the “annoying” things I just have to push through and do. Not one of my children at this season in their lives want to help decorate the tree. They all want a decorated tree, as do I, but nobody wants to do the actual decorating of the thing! We pushed through, it’s up, it smells good, we love it and it’s done, even if we didn’t do it exactly joyfully, dressed in matching red sweaters while we sipped eggnog by firelight. Learning to let go, push through some stuff, give myself and my loved ones a break in terms of expectations, and spend daily time keeping my eyes on Jesus and the wonder of His birth here on earth….. it’s made me fall in love with the Season, (in addition to the love I have for the Reason for the season), all over again!
My first time blogging, so here goes!
I am writing this while my 3-year old is asking for help with his self-inspired arts project and my 4-year old is too quiet that I am beginning to get worried. My husband's current job schedule allows him to be home only 8-12 days a month so life is always interesting! Thanks for sharing your insights, Lysa.
After a day of reflection, this is what I am going to try to do this Christmas. The Ughs and Ahs!
Ever since the weekend after Thanksgiving, my neighbors have had big snowmen in their yards and bushes scattered with flashing lights. I will be thankful when I get my tree up with a few strands of lights and ornaments even if it is a few days before Christmas.
I may be one of many to bring an "original" green bean casserole to the luncheon but I will be thankful for the adult conversation, laughs, and great food.
I know that I will want to complain when I am "obligated" to travel to my husband's family's house 75 miles away for Christmas Eve and then load everyone up again the next day to travel to my family's house four hours away. However, I will be thankful that both sets of parents are healthy and alive.
I won't be able to attend the Mark Schultz concert or the TransSiberian concert for an adult night out as I had hoped but I will be thankful when tears cloud my eyes to see my boys perform at our church Christmas program.
The Thomas the Tank Engine table will not be under the tree this year but I will be thankful when I see my boys' faces light up after they open the huge plastic bulldozer purchased for under $20.
When Christmas carols blare through the speakers of my radio soon after the pumpkins are picked from the local farm, I will not stress out about all the preparations I have to do. I will be thankful that there are such great songs of cheer and celebration of the greatest story ever told.
And if this year my husband and I are not able to exchange gifts, I will be thankful because we both have received the most perfect and beautiful gift of all--the Son of God.
Jill
Thank You Lysa. I have been reading your blog for about six weeks or so and really have enjoyed it. Thanks for the fun giveaways too.
Our Christmas is usually simple but always wonderful. I have found the best place to be at Christmas is in my own home with my husband and precious daughter.My nativity scene is my most precious decoration. Also my daughters homemade gifts and ornaments.
Thanks.
Debra
My sister pointed me to your blog today, and, boy, did I ever need to read this. I have to admit to being a Martha Stewart wannabe. I love having my family around at Christmas, planning menus, baking cookies, the whole bit. But three weeks ago I had an unxpected surgery--major surgery. Thanks to my husband and daughters, the tree is up, but there are no decorations on it. Everything else "Christmas" is still packed away in the basement. And it looks like all the decorating will have to be done by the kids this year since all I can do is direct our home from my place on the couch. My family is coming for Christmas this year, for which I am so thankful, and we'll have 13 people in our house. My mom and sisters are coming with recipes--I'm just not physically able to be Martha this year. It's frustrating to me to not be able to do everything I usually do, but this year my mantra will be "It is what it is." Thanks for the blog!
I think my Christmas Ahhh will be to scale back on everything, decorations, baking, gift buying, etc. I'm not Martha Stewart. I never have been. I'm never going to be. It is what it is, and that's ok.
I posted recently on my blog about my daughter asking about Santa Claus this year. In this discussion, she and I talked about the real meaning for our joy at Christmas. Jesus truly is the "reason for the season." I'm going to focus on that. I find when I do so, I am happier, and consequently, so is my family. Just thinking about it makes me smile.
Thanks, Lysa, for the reminder.
Dawn Ward
I understand about making it a 'selah' season...
After many life-changing events in our family since 2005, moving across the country 2months ago, and a family member surviving a stroke - we are reminded that we are TRULY blessed!
Thank You, Jesus!
Heidi
A month ago, I was laid off. As sole provider for my family while my husband attends school, this should have been an "ugggh" year. I decided not to let that happen. I am finding myself so free to focus on God and search for what He's striving to teach me. I have been able to do all of the important things this year that I've never been able to find time for--spending time with family, sharing and creating family traditions, cleaning my house, etc. Ahhhhh! How good it feels to be content and able to rest! God has provided me with such an overwhelming feeling of peace that I wouldn't trade these circumstances for anything that I thought I wanted.
My mother and I always make plans to bake cookies together for Christmas, but my work always got in the way. This year, all of these cookies will help the space under the tree seem less empty, and the memories we've created will make the emptiness less important. I only pray that I'll be able to remember what's truly important for the years to come, and make time for it.
I am a Christmas-holic! I absolutely love this time of year and still count down to the days like a little child. This year is a bit different though as I have an "uugghhh" that can't go away. It's not about my attitude, but about my belly! That's right, decorating for Christmas being 8 months pregnant was a joy and a small challenge at the same time. Though I have remained at a "good" size, reaching to put the angel at the top of my 3 trees definitely set out an "UGH!" I wasn't able to get as close to the trees as last year. Hmm, interesting concept! Yet after decorating everything around my house and thinking of all of the joys and blessings this season brings, then I can stand back and say "ahhh..." with a smile on my face. It's also nice to take a deep breath as I pray my son drops soon so I can breath better! HA. Blessings to all.
Thanks for being so real Lysa-that is so refreshing to know you don't have birds sitting on your windowsill singing to you as you skip around your house decorating your house perfectly. ;) I always struggle with Thanksgiving & Christmas...once I'm over at the Grandparents I'm fine, it's just getting there & the days anticipating it. Last Christmas & this Thanksgiving were both awesome though since I decided to focus on Jesus only. Funny how that works. :) Blessings, Lelia
http://leliachealey.blogspot.com
All week I had been telling my 16 yo daughter & 19 yo son that we would decorate the tree on Friday night. I had visions of a warm, cozy, fuzzy family time together. Well, my husband had to work late, my teenagers balked at putting the lights on the tree(normally their daddy's job) and things digressed from there. Everyone was tired, so we all went to bed early. I had a call from my sister, so I got up and went to the computer to read her one of Lysa's blogs that I read and enjoyed the other day. I ended up reading today's entire blog to my sister over the phone. We laughed together & my mood lifted. Thanks, Lysa, for the reminder! It is what it is and I'm so happy, happy, happy!
Last year was a tough Christmas for me because of dealing with some postpartum depression. However, this year I am excited to make it fun and less stressful on myself and for my family. Remembering the reason for the season and doing planning ahead instead of having a stressed-out, gotta get it done attitude!! Thanks for the great reminder, Lysa!! You are awesome!!
Well.....I'd probably have a lot less stress if I went to bed on time. : )
It is past midnight where you are, so I hope it is not too late to add my name to the drawing.
Merry "Selah" Christmas to you, too.
Becky
beckyavella@yahoo.com
avellafamily.blogspot.com
For various reasons, this year is the first year for 3 years that we have put up a tree and decorated. I was so excited! I decided to retheme our tree decorations and generally make our home look as christmassy as possible. The bible study girls were coming over for cristmas coffee and dessert, so I decided to make it a special night for them. I spent 4 days baking ($100 in groceries), 2 days decorating and goodness knows how much on candles, table cloths, cd's etc. The night finally arrived and we had a lovely evening. The thing was, it was only for 4 ladies! Maybe I had lost a little perspective! Maybe the novelty of celebrating christmas for the first time in several years will wear off for next year, my husband certainly hopes so. Still, I felt so blessed to know such beautiful people that I just wanted to have a lovely time of fellowship. That was what it was all about - fellowship and thankfulness. Hopefully that is the right attitude, but I may have to make it a little lower key next year!
Thank you for this reminder, we all need it, of course. Last Christmas, my husband and I were fighting tooth and nail to stay together after an affair, so Christmas was me, running around like an idiot, trying to be sure that what we had here was better than what would be elsewhere. But, things were so strained and tense, that we couldnt appreciate my efforts. This focus took away from the fact that we were together, my husband and I, the children, we were there together, and the kids never knew that their family was almost torn apart. They were happy, and excited, and we couldnt enjoy it with them.
This year, it is just about being grateful, about celebrating our family, this is more important than presents, or food, or decorating my house. Today we are putting our tree, all 4 of us, and I just want to teach my children this year, that presents don't matter, but to be happy that we are all here, we are all healthy, and so very blessed.
Thank you for this reminder, i have really been reflecting on this, and your story really reminded me what is important. :)
MaryS
De-stressing over Christmas, just what I need. My mother-in-law was diagnosed last year with cancer just before Christmas last year. She is spending her first Christmas in heaven! Wonder what that is like? Christmas has definitely been put into perspective! The perfect tree is not what makes Christmas, nor the perfect gifts! I wish I had not been so stressed over Christmas pasts and enjoyed family more. So that's my focus this year, family and friends and the truest meaning of the season! It is very freeing!
Lysa, I've always had the same image as you of the Norman Rockwell scene decorating the tree but it always stresses me out. The kids just can't seem to ever do it the way I think it should be done. So this year, I turned this joy over to my hubby. I sat back and peacefully watched them decorate the tree while I hung the stockings. It truly was joyful. I cheered for them from the sidelines and the tree is as beautiful as ever.
I stress too much about the perfect gift. I spend way to much trying to please. Please Jesus let me remember you the perfect gift and give more of myself and less of "things". Help me to find more time for worship and thanksgiving and less time in shopping. Thank you for your message Lysa.
Josie Lytle
lytlere@gpcom.net
I need to let go of the same thing I had to let go of at Thanksgiving- everyone else's attitude during the holiday. How my kids behave or how thankful anyone is when they receive a gift (or don't receive a gift from me! yikes- forgot someone)is something I cannot control.
I can only decide my heart's response towards the Lord this holiday season. I can only decide what I will do each day as I seek to celebrate the wonder of Christmas- Christ with us. So I'm letting go of any expectation of anyone being naughty or nice- they will be what they will be.
As for me, I will ask God to help me celebrate with all my might- and get busy with doing just that.
This year my husband & I celebrated our 10th anniversary (on November 30th) in Hawaii! I was so stressed out about decorating before we left, he actually helped me this year!! I've also been reading Love & Respect. This has been a Godsend. What does this have to do with Christmas? Very little. But I am gratefule for my husband and all his help!!
Thanks so much for partipating everyone! A winner has been chosen for this contest. But feel free to continue to post your ideas for everyone to enjoy.
Blessings!
Lysa
One thing we're giving up this year is SANTA. I Just want our focus to be on Christ Jesus--celebrating Him as an infant and awaiting His return as King. No Santa books from the library, no Santa decorations, etc. This helps me keep my focus and being more deliberate about focusing on Christ helps me have more "ahhh" moments instead of "agggh!" moments.
Thanks for the opportunity to win these prizes!
What an amazing giveaway! The watch with her thoughtful message is such a good idea!
Urgghhh into Ahhhh.... I'm consciously trying to see things through God's view rather than mine. So when the kids in the musical I'm directing don't know their words or motions, instead of seeing the mistakes and the less than perfect show, I'm trying to see 100 little hearts who are learning and growing and haven't lost the inhibition to stand up in front of people and sing and dance and worship their Maker!
Instead of wishing my house looked more put together and PotteryBarn-ish, I'm trying to see a home that is a gift, that is warm and safe and full of love.
Thanks, Lysa!
I agree with you on your Christmas ahh's instead of the panic manic attitude I have had in the past! Now I find I can't live without my 'soul sanctuary' which is the place inside I set aside to worship Jesus instead of everything else during this season.
Encouragement is my passion, because I know it makes a difference for me! I believe if we could learn to say encouraging words to each other, we could change the world one person at a time.
How to encourage
http://howtoencourage.blogspot.com/
I look forward to reading the daily emails of encouragement and inspiration that you share with all of us. It is encouraging to hear how others deal with lifes difficulties and still keep their focus on the one who makes a difference in all of our lives. Thanks for making a difference and allowing God to use you to help me keep my focus where it should be...on Him!
I really found this story helpfull with my own christmas prep. - thank you....it was good looking at it at a different engel
and laughing about it...:)
May we all remember what Christmas is all about
Have a blessed prep time
I enjoyed you comments. I do the same thing, putting away items where I will find them, hopefully with-in the next year. My husband and I have been married for 27 years. We had been married for 19 years before he accepted Christ as his Savior. At that time he asked me to renew our wedding vows on our 20th wedding anniversary. It was wonderful very simple ceremony dedicating our marriage to Christ. I'm so glad we did as after 24 years of marriage we both became disabled with-in a month of each other. This has really created problems for us, but with God's help we will make it and have made it. He is wonderful and provides us with something daily to be thankful for if it's only his continued love. Thanks so much for this opportunity to share with your readers. Yours in Christ Karron
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