It’s the Most Busiest Time of the Year
by Joy Scafide, RDM Co-Director
On the drive home from our Thanksgiving celebrations, I tuned in to some Christmas music on the radio. That quickly sparked a spirited discussion on everyone’s favorite Christmas song. One of my sons said his favorite was Here Comes Santa Claus, another said he liked Jingle Bells. My husband said his absolute favorite was Andy William’s version of It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. He loves the cheeriness and exuberance of it all. It sounds so joyful and big with the horns, drums and background singers. Andy Williams really makes you feel like it IS the most wonderful time of the year. But for many of us, while there is a lot of joy to be found at Christmas, there are also feelings of stress, discontent and restlessness as the season seems to fly by without any time to stop and savor what Christmas is truly about.
Even as I sit and write this, I feel the creeping anxiety of “stuff to do”. Presents need to be bought, cookies need to be made and somehow I need to give my children great memories so they will want to come home for Christmas when they are adults. What is the cure for all this pressure? I won’t say I have the perfect answer but I will share what God whispers to me as I begin to feel that crush at Christmastime.
Put Christ back in the center of my Christmastime rhythms. Jesus is always, always, always the first One I run to when I start to feel overwhelmed with the Christmas season. Put Him at the center of all your celebrations and the needless tasks seem to fall away. For my family, we try including daily Advent Bible readings, decorating a Jesse tree, attending our church’s Sunday services and Christmas Eve service and putting up our beloved nativity sets from around the world. Think about how you and your family can fix your eyes upon Jesus amidst the noise of December and make those tasks your priority.
Thankfulness, especially during this time should emanate from our spirit. All of life is sacred. God is not relegated solely to a lowly manger or out-of-the-way suburb of Jerusalem, but He is present everywhere. At Christmastime we are reminded of this with every evergreen, candle, jingle bell, and choir. Christmas is a good time to reflect on the past year and remember God’s faithfulness and abundant blessings even in the midst of sorrow and pain. Try to take a few minutes every day to thank the Lord for His abiding presence with us and put your circumstances back into a kingdom perspective.
Take the focus off yourself by being a Sabbath presence to your neighbors. Many are restless, joyless, hopeless, and trapped. What is one thing you can do to be a person of peace in their lives? Could you bake a widow some cookies? Babysit kids so the parents can buy them presents? Break bread with a shut-in? Offer friendship to the down-trodden?
Finally, remember that having the “perfect Christmas” is a myth. There will always be more presents to buy, more cookies to bake, more Christmas lights to put up, more Christmas cards to send and more parties to attend…you’ll never have it all together. I am giving you permission to say, “no more.” Stop and enjoy. Be present with the One to whom this season is all about and draw others into His presence as well.
The Christmas season can be one of incredible joy, peace, love and hope. I encourage you to try bringing the spirit of Sabbath rest rather than restlessness into your Christmas celebrations this year. Take time to step out of the flurry of activities around you and rest with your family, friends and most importantly Jesus Christ. As we sing in another wonderful Christmas hymn, “Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
