Do you feel like Christmas rushes in so fast sometimes that just as you get in the groove to enjoy the festivities, it’s over? With Thanksgiving landing so late this year, there’s a good chance Christmas will feel even shorter. And sometimes we just get so bogged down with the demands and trials of life that we only have the energy to react to this jolly season of decorating, shopping and gift giving, with barely a moment to appreciate its true meaning.
This was definitely my predicament in years past but two years ago, I came up with a plan to get more out of the Christmas season. Actually, what I mean is to get less. My goal became more about being intentional about my enjoyment and not just roll along with the current and try to avoid the undertow.
Here’s what I do:
1. Be intentional in my joy. This will be the first year that my oldest daughter won’t be with us Christmas morning. She’s now married and will rightly spend her first Christmas morning with her new hubby. This is just part of how families change. So, we are already figuring out how to “do” Christmas with this in mind. We are making intentional choices to make our celebrations as free of complications as possible. We are making plans but in my mind, I’ve chosen to hold all of this loosely. Plans can change but that doesn’t mean our enjoyment of them has to.
And this isn’t about filling our schedule with activities either. It’s about making intentional plan and decisions to stay in the moment—to be in the spirit and love of Christmas, and to share that with our precious family. Every moment is a gift and I want to live each day in appreciation of what Jesus has given me.
2. Be intentional in slowing things down. This is part of wanting less—less stress. Two years ago I sensed God’s gentle nudge to see things differently—from a place of rest. So, I’m resisting the usual hurriedness of this time of year and am even planning ahead in my work schedule to have time to rest, to read a book, to hang out with family and watch a movie, or just to be free to spontaneously do something. I want to assess everything I’m doing with this question, “Does this please God and draw me closer to Him?”
3. Be intentional about worship. This was an area I really felt I needed to develop more. Not out of duty but out of my love for God and desire to know Him better. That is my heart’s desire, to know God better everyday, every year. To grow closer to Him. When I expressed this to Him in the past, He spoke to my heart these words, “You will find Me in worship.” I want to find Him more.
Break out your favorite Christmas music. Sing along out loud and dance around your kitchen as you bake Christmas cookies! Let the gift of God’s Son—His greatest gift and the ultimate example of God working “for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)—fall afresh on your heart. Let God wow you!
4. Be an intentional blessing. As much as I’d love to just make this month all about R&R for me, I don’t want to be selfish. I want to be a blessing to anyone God puts in my path. This means as I go about my day, I will be intentional in staying alert to God’s “interruptions” and be ready to serve. In the past this was a big challenge for me, because I’m a “get ‘er done kind of girl” and have never been good about interruptions to my agenda. But God heard my prayer to change this area of my heart and life, and He did it! Turns out those interruptions can be the BEST part of my day. Proverbs 11:25 says that those who refresh are refreshed. That’s just part of God’s amazing economy and it’s stunning.
So, whatever being intentional means in your life, go for it. Be joyful and joyfilled. That’s a gift we can give intentionally to our loved ones and our Lord and Savior, because it reflects Him. And what’s even better is when we make it a lifestyle. Then it becomes the gift that gives all year long.
Dineen Miller is passionate about God’s Word and truth. She’s been featured on the Moody Radio Network, Focus on the Family, Dr. James Dobson’s FamilyTalk and FamilyLife Today. Dineen lives in the Bay Area with her family and is the coauthor of the award winning book, Winning Him Without Words and Not Alone: Trusting God to Raise Godly Kids in a Spiritually Mismatched Home. She is also the author of the ACFW Carol Award winning book, The Soul Saver. Visit Dineen online at MismatchedandThriving.com.
Links:
http://www.mismatchedandthriving.com
http://mismatchedandthriving.com/books/winning-him-without-words
http://mismatchedandthriving.com/books/not-alone
Friends, make sure to leave a comment below and share on your Facebook page. Dineen will be giving away a copy of her book “Not Alone” to one of you lucky gals!
Good morning, Dineen. I understand what you’re referring to – the business of the holiday. With a new business starting up, it’s been so difficult to even pull out a Christmas ornament much less put up a tree. It’s the 10th; do I bother putting up the tree so late in the month now? Why a tree? What does that mean? Perhaps I can just put out some other holiday adornments and still enjoy the season. My last child at home is 22 and rarely here anyway, so…maybe I’ll just reduce the glitz and simply enjoy the season. I love this time of year, I love the encouragement, I love the movies, I love the love that’s floating around. Perhaps as our kids move up and out, it’s time to get back to what this blessed holiday really means…for me…and that is to grab the small and precious moments Christ lays in front of me and hold them and cherish them in my heart. I can still catch a warm cup of tea in front of the fire and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and not have to stress about who, what, where, when or why I’m not out shopping. Thanks for this…it’s almost like “permission” to not be so pressed into doing what everyone else seems to be doing…relieving stress and allowing me to enjoy the actual meaning of Christmas. Hugs – katie
Katie, sounds like you are on your way to have a wonderful meaningful and love filled Christmas, my friend. I am praying that for you today! Hugs back!
Hi Dineen, This is such a timely post for me. The word ‘intentional’ has been on my mind a lot recently and what it means to live ‘intentionally’. In fact, I’ve been making a list of ways to do that. Thank you for your insightful words! I’m not entering for a copy of your book. {{hugs}}
Anne, I think that word is resonating with many this year. I love it when God moves like that. Shows me the unity (not uniformity) He so desires His children to have. Hugs back, my friend!