Slow Down at Christmas

Every December, you pledge to slow down at Christmas. And every December, the season rushes by in a blur.

You’re not alone. It’s tough to hit the brakes during the holidays. There are parties, decorations and a mountain of gifts to wrap. Is it any wonder we feel stressed out instead of relaxed and closer to God and our families?

I’ve learned a few things over the years that help me make the holidays as fun, meaningful and stress free as possible. First, be realistic. If you seek perfection, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Instead of expecting things to work out as slick as a Hallmark movie, keep your expectations reasonable.

How? By doing the second thing: keep the main thing the main thing. Pretty lights and parties are fun, but they’re not the point. Find peace in the deeper meaning of Christmas.

And how do you do that? By focusing on your faith and your family. Take note of how God has blessed you and pay those blessings forward by modeling the spirit of Christmas to others.

And most of all, be joyful. Be encouraged by the true reason for the season: Baby Jesus in a manger, who brings God’s grace and forgiveness to a hurting world.

Christmas may never slow down, but you can. Shift your focus. Take a break from the season’s usual hustle and bustle and devote yourself to what Christmas is really all about: faith, friends and family.