It began in the stillness of a freshly fallen snow. The white world twinkled around me, and all was at peace. In this vacuum of silence, birds were quieted, trucks remained asleep in their driveways, and children had yet to don their fuzzy socks and wool hats to rush outside and build a snowman. As I ambled along on my winter walk, the stillness took up residence in my heart.
I try to remember this feeling while under the pressures of another Christmas season. It is the same feeling you get watching a million stars burst out through the darkness of night, or when a newborn’s tiny fingers reach up to grasp your pinky. But it takes a certain stillness to savor the weight of wonder. Left unchecked, hustle can hijack the awe.
A few years ago, after a particularly hectic Christmas week, I penned these words in my journal: hustle is the thief of wonder. Tiring of the Christmas pace and pressure, I longed to quiet the hustle so I could fully savor the wonder. Because what is Christmas if not the wonderful news that the God of Universe became a fetus in a young virgin’s womb? This baby is the seed of hope come to life, and this King in a manger should deeply stir our soul.
So can we do something together this season? Can we reclaim this season by quieting the hustle, so we can savor the wonder of Christmas? Here are two steps we can take as we begin this journey.
Step One: Seek God First This Season
All of us hunger for glory. This is why we drape our homes in beauty and lights each Christmas season, or listen to Handel’s Messiah, or give the perfect gift. Our hearts long to be wowed. And there is no better way to fill our hearts with wonder than stopping to gaze at our most glorious Savior.
In Acts 3:20, Peter tells the Israelites to return to God, “that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” I love the definition of refreshing. According to Strong’s lexicon, refreshing means to “recover breath, take the air, cool off, revive.” Yet refreshment obviously won’t come as we race from store-to-store, or work to curate an entire month of pinterest worthy moments. What does this scripture say? Refreshment comes from the presence of the Lord.
But here comes the rub, when your to-do list runs long, setting aside time to seek Jesus will usually be the first thing to hit the chopping block. Whether from societal expectations, or our natural tendencies, our bodies are adverse to stillness. However, setting aside time to be with God quiets our worry, stills our stress, and calms our anxiety.
Seeking Him first puts God on the throne and our to-do list at His service. Like standing at the base of a wild mountain range, in His presence we can capture His glorious echoes and then cast them back for the world to hear.
Step Two: Create Some Magical Moments of Giving
This is your permission to lower Christmas expectations. Not every day needs to be crammed with magical moments. There is tremendous Christmas pressure to do all the things and do them with perfect beauty, yet the rush can leave us missing people who need our love and attention. On the other hand, slowing down gives us space to throw wide the doors of our heart to those who need it most. This is the most magical thing you can do!
As a little girl my family set aside an entire Saturday in December to bake cookies together. Over the following week our dining room table filled with plates overflowing with cookies. And the result was beautiful. Then my Mom, or Dad, or all of us would hand deliver the cookies to our neighbors and wish them a “Merry Christmas!”
When my children were young we would often take them caroling through a nursing home. Despite that one memorable time when one of the kiddos came home throwing up and we feared we had just spread the flu through every room, it always filled our hearts with wonder to give, rather than to receive.
So while the calling to quiet the hustle may seem daunting, it is not beyond your reach. So let me ask, what simple steps will you take to savor the wonder of Christmas? Your family and friends won’t remember what was perfect, but they will remember what was beautiful, and that beauty comes from you; the wellspring which bubbles up from a heart quieted by the presence of our Jesus.
PS – Here are a few suggestions to seek God first this season:
- Find a Bible Reading Plan you can be consistent with. It doesn’t need to be long, challenging or expensive. You can even read a chapter of Luke each day in December. If you need a reading plan, HERE is one you can download.
- Commit to a time of day. For some it will be early in the morning before your kids wake up. For some it will be at the end of the day when you get home from work. For me it is after the school rush once all my kids are at school. The time doesn’t matter. Just choose a time and stay consistent.
- Avoid the phone first thing in the morning. Don’t open socials, news, or email. The phone’s temptation is a trap. If you decide to not open your phone before you open the Word, then you will probably get to the Word a whole lot faster! (Just sayin’)
Heather, such a practical article.
Step 1. Loved Acts 3:19, “that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Appreciate the call to be in His word before social media.
Step 2. Look for the ways you can GIVE as a family. You used examples.