Do you have a Christmas list? I’m not talking about a list of gifts you plan to buy for family and friends. Or a list of gifts you’d like for family and friends to buy for you…
No, I’m talking about a Christmas to-do list.
Your children won’t have one. More than likely, your husband won’t have one. But you probably do. If it isn’t written down, you have it in your head.
Your list – written or mental – may include items like this:
- Order the holiday ham.
- Take photo for family Christmas card.
- Shop for new outfit for company Christmas party.
- Decorate the tree.
- Put lights on the house.
- Bake and decorate Christmas cookies.
- Pull out the Christmas dishes.
- Shop for family Christmas gifts.
- Wrap packages.
- Get the kids pics taken with Santa.
- Clean the house for company.
- Anything and everything else that you or your family expects at Christmas!!!
This list could go on and on and on. The problem is, we get so busy doing our to-do list, we have no time left for family, rest, or worshiping the new born King.
So, what’s the answer? How can we take the stress out of Christmas and focus on the things that are truly important?
Last week we started a 3-part series on de-stressing Christmas. Step one was to ASK.
Ask yourself and your families what’s important and what’s not. What Christmas traditions and activities are “must-haves” for you and your family? What isn’t that important? You may be surprised!
Asking your family and yourself what’s important is a good first-step. But my guess is you probably only cut a handful of activities or chores from the Christmas season. Now, we need to get a bit more serious. It’s time to…
EVALUATE Christmas.
Think about the various ways you spend your time during the holiday season – in fact, make a list. Write everything you can think of down on a piece of paper or type it into a notes app. I mean everything. Everything from shopping to baking to decorating to going to see Christmas lights to attending parties.
Now thoughtfully and prayerfully consider the items on your list. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- What activities consume the most of your time and resources?
- What activities do you dread? Are these activities necessary?
- Does the item help you or your family worship our Savior?
- Does it put people over things?
- Does it focus on spiritual things instead of physical things?
- Does it further things that last or things that are temporary?
Okay, you have one week to do your homework. Make your list and contemplate the value of each chore, item, and activity on it. The hard part comes next week, but oh, it will be the most beneficial!
What Christmas chore or activity do you dread the most? Tell us!
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