How does that song go again? It’s the most stressful time of the year?
What? That’s not it? You mean we’re not supposed to stuff our faces and our calendars so full that we are filled with discomfort and can barely move?
Ahhhhh.
I don’t know about you, but my December tends to fill up and fast. One weekend this month, we’re going out of town to visit friends and family, and I am not even kidding, I’ve had three invitations for that very weekend already.
People, I am not that popular. This month is just that busy!
How about you? Is your planner overflowing? Is your calendar crammed full?
I know. It’s hard not to get sucked into the madness. You want to fit in all your friends and family and traditions and adventures and events and excitement. You don’t want to miss anything. You don’t want to let anyone down.
At least, that’s how I am.
I’m going to try to keep my grip on sanity this year, though. I’m going to hold on to a piece of calm. I’m going to preserve some quiet and stillness. Maybe not much. After all, just because I have high hopes for a holy holiday season doesn’t mean the world of shopping and choir practice and family obligations and cookie exchanges just fade away.
But what if I just commit to a quiet time each week, or each weekend, or even – hold on, I’m about to get crazy – each day between now and Christmas? Could I do that? Could you do that?
What do you think? How can we hold on to the holy and let go of the hectic?
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I'm a freak. I buy, wrap and decorate everything before Dec.1 so I can enjoy the season. I also have a party every weekend until Christmas.
"What do you think? How can we hold on to the holy and let go of the hectic?"
Say no;)
Mary, I think it's so important to hold on to the holy and let go of the hectic. I love that line.
As someone who sufferred from anxiety and depression who needed medication to help me get back to a place of emotional balance, I know that grabbing the moments of peace where ever we can is the key to an enriching life. During Advent and Christmas or any time.
I have thankfully incorporated peaceful time into each of my days and no longer need medication to calm the heart palpatations, restlessness, and general discomforts that come along with anxiety.
We cannot control every single thing to make an event perfect, make a whole calendar season perfect, "make" someone feel the exact way we wish for them…
Sometimes we just have to choose to remember the holy and what is meaningful in our lives. And to choose to let the world continue on its merry way without our inputs for a few minutes. It's amazing… things work pretty well even when we don't try to manage them to meet our expectations. Go God! :)
I hope everyone can find those moments in the busy, chaotic days ahead!
ah, i love that line too! what a great reminder!
yes… for the first time ever my calendar is filled up. i even had to go out an buy a 2010 calendar because i'm already filling that up with appointments and such. and i used to NEVER use a calendar!
Holding onto Holy…I LOVE THAT!!!
Definitely clinging to the quiet times for me. Without them my day turns to chaos quickly.
Not only is every weekend filled, most every week NIGHT is filled as well. And we're not that popular either–it's stuff for the kids either at school or church. Craziness abounds. But I love your line to hold on to the holy. I am definitely going to remember that.
If I hear my daughter mention it's December 1st one more time I think my head is going to spin off…just sayin'.
And yes, reminders of the real reason for the season often fall between the cracks, so I too like you, am trying to hold on to holy and remind my kids how important "less is more" really is.
Hugs!
Mine is already totally crazy too and I don't even have kids yet, yipes!!! I just love that line you said about holding on to the holy and letting go of the hectic! That's awesome. Something to think on, for sure. I will work on my quiet time, excellent point!