Christmas can feel a touch overwhelming, can’t it? You might be scrambling to get last-minute gifts, or preparing food for company coming from out of town, all the while trying to keep up with work demands. When Christmas finally comes, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the chaos.
Mary and Joseph had a bit of their own chaos. They weren’t rushing to a Roman mall hunting for an ornament that said “Baby’s First Christmas” for Jesus or scrambling to put up a tree, but they did have to deal with unexpected company—a troop of dirty shepherds who arrived soon after Mary delivered Jesus. I’m pretty sure Mary felt exhausted after giving birth in a stable without an epidural. Just when she was trying to get some rest, in came a group of smelly shepherds who had seen a host of angels and were undoubtedly excited and noisy because of what they had experienced.
Scripture tells us that after they saw baby Jesus, they were so excited they began telling everyone what they had seen (Luke 2:17). Mary could have resented the intrusion. Who would have blamed her? But instead she chose to “treasure” (Luke 2:19) the entirety of the experience. The word “treasure” used in this verse speaks to keeping something close to your heart—in other words, savoring the moment. That’s a great lesson for us.
3 Tangible Ways to Stay Present:
- Let go of the need for an elaborate dinner. For years I made a huge Christmas dinner, even though we had late Christmas Eve nights with services. Half the time, my kids would wolf down their dinner and go to play with their presents. It’s honestly taken a long time for me to move past this. Decide ahead what dishes are important for tradition, and then prepare them ahead of time. Involve family members in the cooking so you can all enjoy each other while you prepare. If you have small children, don’t be afraid to use disposable plates. That way you can be present with your kids rather than focused completely on cooking and cleaning.
- Have a few questions in mind to ask your family. Christmas is a wonderful time for conversation. Ask your family or friends about stories of Christmases past. Ask them about favorite memories from their past or about how they coped when money was low. Ask them what their favorite part of the Christmas story is and why. Be creative! By drawing your family and friends out, you’ll stay engaged, and they’ll feel heard and loved.
- Create the space to spend a few quiet moments with Jesus. Thank Him for entering our dirty, chaotic, violent world so that you might have a relationship with God the Father. That might mean getting up a few minutes before your family or grabbing a few minutes mid-day when others are distracted. In your moments with Jesus, ponder: God became a child so that you might become a child of God. It’s absolutely crazy, and in many ways it doesn’t make sense. Treasure the truth this Christmas. When you feel overwhelmed—Pause. Breathe. Reflect. Savor. Jesus came for you.
Lord, help me to be present this Christmas. Show me what it looks like to savor the moments with my family and friends, but most of all show me how to be fully present to You!
Friends, I’d love to hear from you. What’s the best question you’ve asked family members or that someone else has asked you? {eoa}
Becky Harling, an author, certified speaker, leadership coach and trainer with the John Maxwell Team, is an energetic and motivational international speaker inspiring audiences to overcome their greatest life challenges and reach their full God-given potential. Her most recent book is How to Listen So People Will Talk. Her husband, Steve Harling, is the president of Reach Beyond, a nonprofit organization seeking to be the voice and hands of Jesus around the world. Connect with Becky at beckyharling.com, Facebook or Twitter.
This article originally appeared at beckyharling.com.
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett