Love Learn Lead November 30, 2017

As usual, I am marveling at how fast another year is going by, and that we have already entered, as the song says, the most wonderful time of the year. Tony and I have started thinking about gift shopping for our long list of nieces and nephews that grew by two this year. And, as we live far from family, we’re figuring out how best to spend time with our loved ones.

In hopes of starting our season off right, today I share some Christmas music I love, something that has helped me enjoy the Holidays more, and an old quote on the meaning of Christmas.

Merry reading!

Love

Nothing sets the tone for this season, quite like good Christmas music. And last year, worship leader and songwriter, Christy Nockels released a beautiful Christmas album entitled The Thrill of Hope. It’s a great compilation of a few classics as well as some incredible original songs—one that even made me think about Christmas differently. So, now that you know what I am listening to this month,

What Christmas music are you listening to?

Learn

Christmas is truly a wonderful time of year. And yet, Pinterest, Hallmark movies, or our own nostalgia can lead us into some pretty dangerous territories trying to make the holidays perfect. It’s only been a week since Thanksgiving, and our schedules are already filling with all the parties, shopping, decorating, and baking this season entails. It’s that time of year when things can easily get out of hand.

But one thing that has helped me gain perspective on the holidays is a chapter from Shauna Niequist’s book, Bread and Wine, entitled “Present Over Perfect.” In it she shares how getting caught up in the to-do list of Christmas can steal the best we have to offer those we love—ourselves. She explains:

“I can show up with my perfectly wrapped grab bag gift and my perfectly baked cookies…and my perfectly resentful self, ready to snap at the first family member who looks at me wrong. Or I can choose to rest my body and nourish my spirit, knowing that taking a grounded, present self to each holiday gathering is more important than the gifts I bring.”

She goes on to talk about looking for ways to simplify the less crucial parts of the holiday, so that she doesn’t miss what is most important. Her words have shaped how I look at Christmas, and have helped me the past couple years, do things differently. Do things, better. So as we begin this season, I invite you to join me in asking:

What is most important this month?

What does it look like to take care of ourselves, so we can show up for those we love?

Lead

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”