I have been thinking through how I can best bask in the spirit of the Holidays. Last year was a messy flood of trials and challenges that left little room for peace, rest, or reflection-
This Holy Season calls for such sanctifying things, doesn’t it?
I often miss out on truly immersing myself in the wonder of it all. Life gets busy. Things happen beyond our control. And in the haste and hurry of all the checklists and gatherings and activities and shopping- It’s so very easy to miss the stillness, the holiness, through all the going , the doing, the constant moving. This is the time to cherish quiet moments of reflection, allowing the whispers of God to soak in our souls.
But how on earth will we find time for that when we have so much to do?
Yeah, I know.
This year I am approaching the season differently. I must. I am in search of the Sacred Season I have missed for too long. For the rest of December, I will be making some radical changes to make room for such things, and although it’s scary to anticipate the adjustments, I am absolutely convinced this is what I need to do. You know how I know?
I long for it.
I ache for it.
These decisions are not based on prioritizing all those responsibilities I hold or balancing an overwhelming schedule, or even juggling the parenting craze the days ahead can bring.
I will choose wisely for my soul’s sake.
Yes, that.
Before the kids are home for break, I want to cherish the stillness and soak in the moments I can afford and open my heart to His gentle whispers calling my name. I want to read and reflect and allow God to minister to my heart, as I pull back from the going, the doing, the constant moving.
Reflection. Replenishment. Refueling.
And when the kids are on break, I want to embrace all their excitement of Christmas with fun activities, visits with friends and family and our own moments of stillness, reflection and listening to God’s whispers together.
Joy. Relationships. Presence.
I want to spend this season immersed in the blessed beauty of all it is to be…
It’s time to open up space and make room for where God leads me.
I hear Him calling my name, trying to pull me away from the online world and the busyness of the going, the doing, the constant moving.
With great intention and bold assertion, I will step back from the things I hold dear and trust that I will surely find the Sacred Season and soak in the glow of His light.
Perhaps you can join me- amidst the going, the doing, the constant moving? It may take some radical changes for you too.
Take those steps back with great intention and bold assertion, and step forward in search of your own Sacred Season.
THIS is the time.
Don’t miss it.
Reflection. Replenishment. Refueling.
Joy. Relationships. Presence.
That is my hope for us all this Holiday Season.
I needed this today! I spent the weekend (or so I determined as of this morning when it was officially over) doing so much, all the bustle and the busy. And I felt badly about missing just being and enjoying. I’m going to aim for the less busy for the rest of the season.
Good for YOU, Tricia!! I hope you were able to just BE, my friend… and embrace those quiet moments of the season. XOXO
I literally just had to make a choice today of whether to take on more work during the Christmas week or keep to the time I planned on taking off. I choice the latter and am truly happy I did. I might be forgoing a bit of money, but this precious time with my family means more to me than a few measly extra dollars to be quite honest. So this really hit home and honestly I very much agree with your sentiments here.
GOOD FOR YOU JANINE!!!!! I hope you embraced those moments that are truly precious to you, my friend! And may more of them come in the New Year!
I know you will find all of those things, Chris! I love the spirit of the season, even though Christmas is not my religious holiday. It is easy for me to find that joy and presence because I simply have to look around me, without all the busy and frenzy that accompany this time of year. I wish that for you too, my friend. xoxo
Thank you so much for your wishes, Dana! I did… I DID. 🙂
I’m searching. Mainly it doesn’t pass me by but two years ago, it did. I never really felt.. IT. That special IT. Last year I did again. This year? I haven’t yet. I think I will, though. I need to work on relaxing. Funny, right?
Did you feel IT? Did you? Oh, how I pray you did!! XOXO
I hear you might momma! You won’t “see” me much I’ve ctge next couple weeks. The hope you had an extraordinary Christmas season!
Allie, I do hope you had a WONDERFUL Christmas with your beautiful family my friend!! May you feel blessed now and throughout the coming year!! XOXO
I hope you find all that you need to be replenished and refilled to overflowing with joy and purpose xoxox
Well, despite Cass getting worse- it truly was peaceful, purposeful and *almost* perfect!! (I’m SO glad for where YOU are right now… And I LOVED my card, your writing, your words, your heart MADE my day!) I LOVE YOU!!
Beautiful, Beautiful Christine! I love to hear you pulling away from the world to the heart of Christ during this Christmas season! You are doing so with bold and passionate intention for Christ, and what comes to me is ‘seek and ye shall find’!! My heart is so warmed by this blog. I wrote, too, this week about similar.. about creating an intention for Christmas to counteract the shouting Christmastime materialism all around us..you have several beautiful intentions and I love them all!! May the blessed peace of Christ root in your heart and soul, and sing throughout this season May the joy with your children be the bells and whistles in the symphony of your holiday! I just love your heart! AndI sense this will be the most wonderful Christmas season for you and your family! Blessings during each unfolding day!
OH, how I adore your heart too Kathy!! Our Christmas was lovely, peaceful, purposeful and really almost perfect- despite my girl getting sick. (There’s always gonna be something, right?) I do pray your was BLESSED, my dear friend. XOXO
Thank you. This helped me exhale. I am with you on all this. Although the connections with amazing people like you I am making in the online world have been amazing, being on the computer so much and all the noise from Facebook is definitely taking its toll. I love coming here, though. It’s like a serene resting place.
The online world IS amazing… but oh, it can be so depleting and I manage to perform over and OVER again- that ‘self-induced stress’ trying to keep up on it all. I realize that I MUST let go at times in order to re-connect again. It’s so so hard though… but liberating!
Do you know how much it means to me that you come here? “Serene resting place” <--- THIS - You made my dream come true. *Thank you from the depths of my heart for that.*
This is the perfect time of year to do just that. Get your mind right so you can be fresh, ready and set to go the bring in the new year! Cheers!
THAT is the plan, my friend!! So far, it’s working! 🙂 I hope you had a beautiful and blessed Christmas, Kenya!!! And Here’s to a New Year in search of MORE Sacred to savor. 🙂
This is so lovely Chris.
I too long for that peace and reflection that comes with this sacred season. There’s much happening right now… my grandma is seriously ill, my birthday and my brother’s birthday are coming up (and within a week of each other. Christmas concerts, gatherings, parties. So much pulling in every direction.
That’s why I started the IF:Equip (website) advent Bible study. Every day I read, reflect and journal about the season’s promptings. It’s preparing my heart.
Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas to you my friend.
xoxo
Did you make it? Oh, how I pray your grandma is okay and that you were able to celebrate your birthday and Christmas with your intentional faith my friend! What a beautiful way to ensure you are filling yourself with GOD first… I just love that. God bless you and your family.
I’m looking forward to some reflection, and quiet time, and spending time enjoying my family. I prefer a slower pace at the holidays…I’m not into the frenzy. I dislike shopping and I can’t keep up with the Jones as far as decorating goes. I just want to sit on the couch and play a board game, and do things with my kids…as they get older, I realize more and more that they’ll be leaving the nest and my time with them will be more limited.
My oldest son went off to college this year, and while I am thrilled he is flourishing in his new environment, it feels like there is a hole in the house. I miss him.
Oh Michelle! I hope you were able to savor the moments with ALL your kids home for the Holiday!! I can’t imagine one of mine gone… I know the day will come. I wish you many blessings in the New Year, my friend. <3
I welcome your words with joy Chris! The Christmas season is a time to let go, reflect on what matters and let God be with us, allow Light to enter our lives and show us the road for the coming year.
We always seem to have 100 of things to do during this special time of the year. Maybe the best is to relax and to connect with the energy within, let God talk to us.
May you have a blessed season and a wonderful christmas time!
I adore your heart, my friend!! I do hope and pray you had a BEAUTIFUL and BLESSED Christmas!! XOXO
Oh Chris I wish for the same! I just want to drop everything and just fully immerse myself in the moment. Family. Kids. Faith. The rat race and the need to stay updated with what’s going on is really taking a toll on me. I just want to crawl into bed and hug my kiddoes for days. 🙁
Wishing you a wonderful holidays my friend.
Did you make it? Oh, how I hope you were able to muster a few days of being immersed in those precious moments Jhanis!! I *Think* I did… 🙂
I get this feeling every Christmas season. I try to front-load all the most time-sensitive tasks to save time at the end just for God. I usually fail. This season I’m doing better, enjoying the lights and the music and the still moments with God and the Holy Spirit and reflecting on Jesus’ purpose on earth. Slowing down is key for me to have the right frame of mind about Christmas.
YES… slowing down. It’s SO hard for me to do that! I’m here now though… 🙂 Finding a few moments of Holy bliss.
I think it takes a lot of willpower and strength to take those steps back for refueling and reflection, but I’m sure once you do it, you will be fulfilled on many levels. Good for you! I hope to be able to “check out” of the internet for a while too and just focus on family and relaxation and good old-fashioned spontaneous fun. 🙂
It took some effort, but after a week of going through detox (ha!) I finally started to feel less and less angst and more and more peace…and JOY! I hope you had a beautiful break too, my friend!!
It’s so easy to let the season fly by. I love your intention to really get excited with the kids…finding ways to see the season through their eyes. For me it’s the traditional hymns. When I sing them in church and really, I mean really, hear the words I can hardly make it through an entire song without getting choked up.
Merry Christmas friend.
Oh how I love LOVE those precious Holy moments!! They catch me by surprise sometimes…
I hope you had a beautiful and BLESSED Christmas, my dear friend!
I did my last pre Season holiday task tonight and now it will all be about Basking! Soaking it up. Pouring it out onto others. Not that there still isn’t work, but I too want to enter into that state with a sense of calm. It.will.all.get.done.
It does – every year. No matter how much I worry and fret, or don’t.
I bought myself an early Christmas present – it’s a Mantra Band that is engraved with “Be Present”
I LOVE your Mantra Band! I do believe that is the KEY, my friend! I bet your Christmas was beautiful and blessed… And I wish the same for you in the New Year my dear friend!
Wise advice, my friend! I have a music CD that I think you will LOVE. When I listen to it — I feel like I am able to truly listen to God. The lyrics are incredible. http://www.blessedarethebroken.com/music/
So yeah… I’m actually just getting your link now! LOL It’s never too late though… THANK YOU for this blessing Andralicious!!! 😀 LOVE you!
This is gorgeous Chris and so so true that we must make room for the quiet reflections during the busy holiday. We. Must. By the way, you should link this with Finish the Sentence this week! It’s perfect for it! <3
Do you know I wrote it to fit in the FTSF link up? THEN I totally forgot… ACK!!! It was just too crazy here to deal… BUMMER! Will definitely dive back in after break!! MISS YOU! I do hope you had a beautiful and BLESSED Christmas my dear friend. <3
This is a beautiful hope for us all Chris! I had to laugh a bit at your line that started “Before the kids are home…” as it is such a difference pre-Christmas break vs. Christmas break. Quiet vs. noise, noise that is joyful and I will miss one day. So I’ll cherish it all the more this year!
RIGHT? I knew time was ticking and running out before the kids were going to SLAM into my silence! LOL And you are so right… lets cherish the madness together! We WILL miss it one day… 🙂