Planning a Joyful December
27 Nov
I hope your Thanksgiving was a wonderful day full of many blessings.
Now the wonderful Christmas season is officially here again! This is a time that should be filled with such joy and excitement for both children and adults. Did you ever notice how quickly the December calendar fills up? It’s not even December yet, but I can tell you events that are planned already for my family all through this festive month. With shopping, baking, decorating, programs, parties, and a host of other activities, time goes quickly and before we know it, it is December 25 again!
Holiday festivities and traditions are fun; they are something we look forward to at our house all year long. Today as we are close to the end of November, I encourage you to remember to be conscious of how you schedule activities for December. I’d like to encourage you to make this December a joyful Christmas celebration. Plan ahead—you don’t need to say yes to every activity. Reevaluate how you are spending your time and see what you can change in your schedule to be more productive. Do what you can now before the month even begins to get a plan in place of the definite things you want to do, and then make sure you get those done. If you have time do the rest. As you are planning activities for your family, consider this question–When your children are grown, how will they remember you during the holidays? Will they remember a time of stress and short tempers for everyone because you must fit in “one more thing,” or will they recall memories full of fun activities done together with love for others? If we aren’t careful, we may let insignificant details overwhelm us, fill up our schedule and leave us frazzled instead of joyful. Also, remember the verse which says quite simply
“Be joyful always.” I Thessalonians 5:17
We should be joyful all the time but especially during this season. If we are so busy that we lose our focus and lose that joy, then something needs to change.
If you do find yourself caught in the hustle and bustle, stop and remember the reason for the celebration: the greatest Gift of all that came in the form of a little Baby in a manger two thousand years ago.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
I pray it is a joyful season for you and you find yourself enjoying it with those you love instead of becoming frazzled.
Amen, amen.
Charity is a great tradition to begin with the family. A little goes a long way!Check out the Great Ormond Street Hospital’s website, http://shop.gosh.org/GOSHShop/ , for gift ideas that also help support the hospital!Great gifts and a great cause!Happy Christmas!
I loved how you wrote to consider how our children will remember Christmas when they look back:
“Will they remember a time of stress and short tempers for everyone because you must fit in “one more thing,” or will they recall memories full of fun activities done together with love for others? If we aren’t careful, we may let insignificant details overwhelm us, fill up our schedule and leave us frazzled instead of joyful.”
This is so good. The older we get the more we remember those early years.
Wonderful post and so timely.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
A couple of years ago I trimmed back on all that I do around this time of the year as it was stealing me of my joy. Its the simple things like baking cookies with my daughter and making memories with my loved ones that really count, not how many wreaths I have hung on my house, etc. Thanks for this timely reminder. -blessings.
Excellent !
Some years ago, our Pastor suggested this :
In our efforts to keep Christ in Christmas, plan to be finished everything by Dec. 20th.
I may make that goal this year….by God’s Grace
Amen to that!!!! I think we often forget to schedule some quiet time during the Christmas celebration. Thank you for the reminder to slow down once in awhile.
Amen! It is so easy to get caught up in all the activities and lose sight of the joy and meaning of the holiday season.
Oh Bethany you nailed this topic!
I’m with Debbie. I really liked how you tied it in to how will the children remember Christmas. It’s neat to see all three of my adult children now carrying on some of the traditions we developed over the years into their own homes plus develop their own.
Blessings, my friend.