The magic of Christmas is real. We see it in the eyes of our children and remember it from days gone by. But finding rest in the “magic” of Christmas is hard as moms. We’re so busy trying to make it perfect for everyone else, we often get worn out and feel like we’re just barely getting through. So how can we find rest in the magic of Christmas, all while trying to get everything done?
Being a mom at Christmas is one of the busiest jobs in the world…but also one of the best! As moms, we get to “bring the magic” to the Christmas season and provide our children with amazing Christmas memories.
But bringing the magic usually means we have a to-do list that’s a mile long. And oftentimes, the only way to accomplish everything is by sacrificing sleep and loading up on caffeine! (I say this from personal experience….)
We pretty much always get it all done and when Christmas morning arrives, our kids are basking in the excitement and joy of the day – which is exactly what we want. However, what have we really sacrificed to get there? Did we FEEL any of the magic we have been providing for the last month, or were we too busy and exhausted to actually enjoy the moments we were creating?
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How Can We Possibly “Slow Down”?
As moms, our lives revolve around our families and I personally don’t believe there’s anything wrong with that. But as we enter the Christmas season this year, I want things to be different.
I want to feel fully present in the magical moments. I want to find a way to quiet my spirit, even if my mind is racing with things to do. I don’t want to feel like Christmas is happening AROUND me while I’m too busy to take it all in.
But how do we, as busy moms at Christmas, actually achieve that? There are presents to buy, cookies to bake, parties to plan, concerts to attend…and the list goes on. Plus, we still have all of our regular responsibilities such as grocery shopping, house cleaning, homeschooling, and getting everyone where they need to go.
How, with all the added responsibilities, can we possibly slow down and fully enjoy the season? I don’t have any answers, but I do have some ideas. This blog post is as much about me helping myself as it is about me trying to help you. We’re in this together friends, and I just know in my heart that there must be a better way.
Keep the MOST important things
First, I want us to think about the Christmas traditions or events that are the most important to you and your family. Things that if you didn’t do, it just wouldn’t feel like Christmas. For my family, some of them are:
- Building our gingerbread house
- Putting up our outdoor Christmas lights together and then having hot chocolate
- Going for a Christmas light drive
- Baking Christmas cookies at Grandma’s house
- Waking up every morning and searching for those mischievous little elves
- Listening to Christmas music pretty much all the time
- Watching our favorite Christmas movies together
Honestly, there’s more I could add to the list but that’s a good start. We are big Christmas people so we have lots of traditions that are important to us this time of year!
However, I can’t help but notice something about my list – not a single item on there revolves around presents. None of the things that really “make Christmas” have anything to do with the gifts we buy for each other. So what does that tell me?
To take a line from Charlie Brown, “What is Christmas really about?”
Resting in the true meaning of Christmas
I think we all know what Christmas is really about. It’s about the fact that God loves us so much that he gave his only begotten son. Yes to die….but first, to be born!
Jesus came to this earth in the form of a vulnerable little infant, fully relying on his earthly family to see him through. God in human form…humble, fragile, and in need of a loving mother and father to care for him.
God loves us so much that he came to earth and died for us so that we can have everlasting life! But in the process, he showed us the beauty of a loving family. He showed us that it’s ok to lean on our family for support, and to enjoy spending time with them.
His stable birth also showed us that sometimes, the most beautiful moments happen in the midst of a mess.
Mary didn’t need a perfectly spotless home in order to marvel in the beauty of her son. (Although if asked, I’m sure she wouldn’t have listed a stable as her top preference.) And neither do we need our homes or lives to be perfect in order to celebrate His birth with the people we love.
As I get older, I’m realizing more and more how false the idea of perfection is. No matter how hard we try to make things perfect at Christmas, something will always fall short. And in my experience, it’s usually me. In my efforts to create the perfect Christmas for my family year after year, I neglect to spend time focusing on the ONLY piece of perfection in history – Jesus.
Shifting Our Focus
You know the expression, “what would Jesus do?” Well, I think when it comes to resting in the magic of Christmas, the more appropriate question is, “what would Jesus want?”
If Jesus were to arrive at your house the morning of December 1st and stay until the evening of December 25th, how would that change your plans?
Would you leave him alone every night while you ran endless errands and bought item after item to pile beneath your tree? Would you hang out with him for 10 minutes every day but then forget he was there for the remaining 23 hours and 50 minutes?
If Jesus was your house guest for the Christmas season, what would He want from you? A perfectly clean house, a box of chocolates and the latest Nintendo Switch game?
No. He would want you to want Him.
The reality is friends, even though He may not be sleeping in our spare room, Jesus is here with us. And more than anything He wants us to quiet our hearts and minds this season so we can focus on the gift He came to give. The gift he already gave. The gift that cost us nothing and cost Him everything. The gift that represents the truest and purest love that has ever existed. The gift that really is the reason for the season.
You see, I don’t think that Jesus would be upset about us baking cookies, watching Christmas movies and giving each other presents that spark joy and laughter! Jesus loves us and delights in our lives! None of the traditions or tasks that we take part in at Christmas are wrong – they just can’t come before Him.
Him FIRST
So as I ask myself the question of how I can possibly rest in the magic of Christmas, I’m realizing that the answer to that, is to rest in Him FIRST.
As a mom who loves to bring the magic to my family at Christmas, I know I’m going to be busy. And to be honest, I’m fine with that because I really do love Christmas! But, if I want to experience the magic myself and not feel like I’m just an exhausted by-stander in all of this – Jesus is the answer.
The Bible tells us to seek Him FIRST, before everything and everyone else. And to be honest, I’m guilty of not doing that. Especially during Christmas when my list of tasks seems never ending.
But what I’m learning is that there are two types of Christmas magic. One is the magic of being a parent and seeing our children’s eyes sparkle in the glow of Christmas lights, and hearing them giggle excitedly in their rooms on Christmas morning!
But the second is the magic of being a child myself. Because you see, even though I’m grown up with a family of my own, I’m still God’s child. Just as I delight in seeing the joy on my children’s faces, so does Jesus delight in seeing the joy on mine! And if I want to truly “be the magic”, as well as “feel the magic”, I have to be a child of God BEFORE anything else.
In doing so, I get to experience the magic of what God has done for me through His son Jesus. As I give Him my time, He gives me the rest I so desperately need. He reminds me what is truly important and points out the things I need to let go of. He pours blessing after blessing into my life and I see those blessings in the faces of my own sweet babies.
Christmas should be a season of rest for our spirits. And I believe I may finally be figuring out how to feel that beautiful rest I so greatly desire.
Take It All In
The last thought I’ll share is this – don’t ever feel guilty about maintaining your traditions. Buy the presents, eat the food, sing the songs…do it all! But let’s do it WITH Jesus at the center.
Friends, let’s try really hard to seek Him first each and every day. Then, while we’re baking the cookies let’s thank Him for the blessing of family, food, and fun!
As we wrap the presents, let’s thank Him for giving us the ability to buy gifts for the people we love.
And as we spend time with friends this Christmas season, let’s share the love of Jesus with them. Because without Him we would have nothing.
Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season….but actually, He’s the reason for everything!
Blessings!
Maryann
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