If you are like me the holidays can be a blessing but they also can be stressful, anxiety filled and very busy.
As a CWAHM and Pastor’s Wife, I literally have to sit and try to remember all the things I need to do in preparing for family to come over, cleaning the house, take care of church business and our plans for Christmas Eve service, writing the menu for Christmas dinner, try to finish all my home business work, in between shopping, shopping and more shopping.
Sometimes I wish we had eight arms and hands like an Octopus that could do multi-tasking simultaneously. Hey wait a minute….we already do?
We’re wives, moms, worker bees, nurses, secretaries, accountants, chefs, house keepers, counselors, disciplinarians, taxi cab drivers, sometimes bus driver’s and professional shoppers. Whew! What a list.
So how do we deal with the holiday hoopla added on top of that oh so crazy list? I came up with some helpful tips to make Christmas a time of remembrance:
1. Remember What Matters Most: In all our busyness we can be taken away from what really matters. Take a moment to reflect on your priorities which are Christ first, family, career etc… Try not to focus on things that just are not important and focus on the things that are.
2. Remember That it’s Not About the Presents: A great way to honor Christ this Christmas and at the same time teach your children the true meaning of Christmas is to share the birth of Jesus story with them, and then take them to the store and let them pick out brand new toys to donate to needy children or families. Make it a memorable and enjoyable experience and they will want to do it more often!
3. Remember Those That Are Lonely & Hurting: Christmas is also one of the most depressing holidays, for people who have lost a loved one, are lonely, hurting or ill. Please look around in your own sphere of influence and say a prayer, make a call or take over a meal or small gift to a friend or family member who needs your love or comfort and more importantly need God’s love through you. If you are one that is hurting this season, please call someone to pray for you, you are not alone and people care about you and would love to encourage and comfort you during this difficult time.
4. Remember the Soldiers: Let us also remember the soldiers that have lived and died honorably for the sake of peace. Please lift them up and their families for strength, comfort and peace.
5. Remember What Jesus Did For You: Christmas is a time of reflection on the real reason Christ was born and how His life as well as His death was a sacrifice for us. Remember back what your life was like before you received Him and reflect on how He has blessed you abundantly since that life changing day.
By remembering all the blessings Jesus has done for us and at the same time reaching out to others, we are commemorating His birth and honoring His life and allowing Christ’s Life to live in us and through us. It is a heritage to be carried on from generation to generation. May your Christmas be blessed and stressed free! From our family to yours!
Filoiann Wiedenhoff is a Pastor's Wife, Work at Home Mom, Woman's Biblical Counselor and Writer. You can view her website at http://filoiannwiedenhoff.com/
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