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And . . . we’re off and running into the chaos of Christmas, where we’re challenged to find the balance between doing or being fully in the season. Thanksgiving is a part of 2021’s history. Christmas Day looms less than a month away. Where has the year gone?
For our last number of Christmases, we’ve flown to Hawaii to spend it with Hubs’ mom, because we didn’t know when her final Christmas would be.
That final Christmas was last year. And this year, I’m struggling to find my new normal in celebrating this holiday. This year has held a lot of anxiety. I’m entering the season of peace already running behind.
The Struggle with Doing or Being
Jesus’ intention is not for us to feel like we’re already behind. There’s got to be a balance between doing or being. Yes, many of us have a lot of doing to complete. But will this cost our spirits if we also desire to be fully engaged on Christmas morning?
For years, I’ve grappled with doing or being in this season. My heart yearns to dwell in complete peace, unrushed and being fully present in the celebrating. But there’s so much to do in preparation for The Day. Emotions run raw, especially this year, as we navigate Christmas without my mother-in-law and brother-in-law.
5 Simple Perspectives When We Struggle with Doing or Being—My heart yearns to dwell in complete peace, unrushed and being fully present in the celebrating #tellhisstory #christmasspirit #perspective Click To TweetWith our boy-men busy with their work schedules and their lives . . . sometimes I feel like our family is beginning to fracture. Christmas should include togetherness, right? Building memories as a family?
That may be my ideal. But, to make it a reality requires some shifting in my mindset.
My soul craves the peace and rest only Jesus gives. A fresh drink of His hope, His joy. Though I seek to celebrate Him, I am frail and oh, so limited in my ability to be still in His presence.
Instead, my to-do’s rush through my tired mind, spurring my weary body onward to cross off the next item on my list. Making changes in how we do things to prepare for Christmas doesn’t automatically result in peace in this sometimes-chaotic season.
Five Thoughts for Simply Being
Peace doesn’t come in doing all the things. It comes through being in His presence. There will always be more things to do if we’re striving for the perfect Christmas. If we try to do all the things, we’ll feel the chaos of attempting too much. Rather, we need to invite Jesus into our days. And, if we’re brave, ask Him to pilot us through each day with His priorities.
Being close to Jesus. Spending time in His word, in prayer gives us opportunities to practice being with Him daily.
Being still in His presence as many days of this busy season as we can. This can be challenging when our lists remind us of all we must do in the next few weeks.
Being willing to die to self, to have eyes wide open to see how to be a blessing to others, especially those who live in our inner circles.
Being . . . what? What should we seek to be?
Being content that we are one of God’s kids, that He loves us, and letting that BE enough for this season.
Changing our Mindsets
We can’t be everything to those around us. Only Jesus can accomplish that. But, when we choose to dwell with Jesus, we will more clearly reflect His love to those around us.
This practice of simply being stretches me thin. Focusing on being must be an intentional choice. It’s much easier to “do.”
Even in the busyness of this season, I can simply be as I spend time with Jesus each day. When I choose to be in His presence, I can know His peace. I can then offer peace to my sometimes stressed-out sons, to a bone-weary husband. I can give love with every part of who I am.
And to those I find difficult to love, I can ask God to love them through me.
There is a place for “doing” in Christmas. But it’s in knowing how to “be” that we take the first steps to live in Jesus’ peace in a chaotic season.
It’s when I lay myself down flat before Jesus, emptying out to Him my discouragements, disappointments, and hopes, I can be filled up by Him.
Perhaps as I focus on being rather than doing I will know Jesus’ peace, know His joy as He fills the emptied out person I am.
What about you? How do you find the balance between doing or being in the Christmas season? How do you purpose to be a blessing to others in this season?
Come share your story at the Tell His Story linkup. Connect and be encouraged by like-minded friends! #tellhisstory #linkup Click To TweetMost weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Oh yes, it’s only in His presence that we’ll find all that we’re yearning for … peace, rest, acceptance, love, joy, purpose … and on and on.
Emmanuel, God with us.
I’m so grateful, Jeanne.
Linda, I am so thankful for God With Us! I’m grateful His presence is always with us, and that He offers us so many gifts. Sending you hugs, friend.
Aw, Jeanne … it’s so hard to walk through these seasons for the first time after losing loved ones. I understand the anxiety that comes with it and will be praying that you will experience God’s peace in a new way this December. I cleaned the bathroom today just to get away from my thoughts about something that’s bothering me, so your encouragement to be intentional about being still before God was very timely. 🙂
Lois, I know you know the pains and tears that come with “firsts.” Thank you for your prayers. they are much appreciated.
Good thoughts Jeanne and so true. The being is so much greater than the doing. With Christ we have a purpose, something to hold precious. His presence is peace and moments relief from the struggles, encouragement that He is with us to help carry our burdens and a guarantee of His love. Peace is proof of His Presence bringing a smile to my face if only for a little while. Choosing to BE with Him strengthens my soul.
Focusing on being rather than doing is a great insight to combat the crushing pressures of our holiday to-do lists. My blog this week will be on the same topic, so we’re certainly on the same page, Jeanne! Thank you for your insights!
I am so encouraged and inspired by this. Thank you for vulnerably sharing.
Thank you, Lauren. So thankful for you!
Lovely post, Jeanne! I’m not sure what our Christmas will look like this year either and it’s causing me a lot of anxiety. I want to concentrate more on being, but I feel like I’ll get behind if I’m not focusing on doing. You’re reminding me here that “being” comes first.
Lisa, I’ll be continuing to pray for you. I was asked what my primary emotion has been for the past month, and it was anxiety. God and I are having some conversations about that. I, too, am trying to find the balance between doing and being. Just remember to breathe through each day, okay? Hugs.
Being instead of doing is tough for Marthas like me. Praying to have a Mary Heart throughout the season.
I agree, Jerralea! It’s so much easier for me to do than to be. It’s sometimes uncomfortable to simply “be.” But, that’s where God meets us and draws us closer to Him. I’ll pray alongside you for a Mary heart.
“Let it be enough…” Such special ways to “be enough,” Jeanne. I love this post and am glad to be reminded of ll of these ways to be at peace in the Lord during this season. I love the photo of the precious little boy decorating the tree. Is that a child/grandchild of yours? Just cute!! And there truly is a peace in that photo even though a young one such as he is is not always calm and collect!! ~ linda
Linda, thank you for your encouraging words. That little boy was my youngest when he was, maybe two, I think? I love that photo of him too. 🙂 Little ones don’t always promote peace, but boy they can sure add some joy. 🙂 I hope your first Christmas in Colorado is wonderful!
I feel your pain Jeanne, Christmas becomes a difficult season for many families when family members pass or are across closed borders.
Children become adults, marry & other families come into the picture & suddenly families are fractured…
Christmas season for me has never been the same since my late husband’s passing from brain cancer. As much as I try, it just isn’t. So I’ve learnt to just be kind to myself.
I enjoy my Lord all year long & in this season in just ‘being & have stopped the major doing’. And that’s okay!
Hubby & I enjoy giving small ‘goodie bags to our adult daughter’s & grandchildren’ with homemade goodies.
But we let others host now. And that can be different each year & that’s okay! ☺️
Bless you,
Jennifer
Jennifer, I’ve learned not everybody experienced the kinds of Christmases I did as a girl. Mine were overall pretty happy. But, loss definitely colors Christmas with different hues. And broken relationships can make Christmas painful. I like how you said you enjoy the Lord all year long. That’s the best way to enjoy him! I always enjoy reading how others celebrate Christmas, especially when they share the why’s for what they do. 🙂 Thanks for sharing yours!
Thank you, Jeanne for the reminder right at the start of all the “hustle & bustle” to focus on what is really important. I often start off well, but end up frazzled. More and more I am leaning into God and acepting things don’t have to look like a magazine to be beautiful. More importantly, it’s Ok to feel hard emotions, and I need to show myself the same grace God does. Hugs to you dear friend!!
Donna, I know what you mean about starting well but finishing frazzled. That is me most years. I think I’m getting a little better about that, but every Christmas season is so different with the things we’re facing. And yes, I’m still a work-in-progress when it comes to giving myself permission to feel the hard emotions. Showing myself grace is so hard. Thank you for the virtual hugs. I’ll take them!
I’m so sorry this has been a year of anxiety for you, Jeanne. As I started reading here about this being the first Christmas without your mother-in-law, I couldn’t help but think of the message we heard on Sunday – When Turkey and Tinsel Are Tears. He talked about how difficult those “firsts” are. There were a lot of losses this year, some known and some not known, and he encouraged everyone to not try to numb ourselves but to let grief takes its course. Also, how what we’ve gone through can be used. A couple recently lost their baby at two months, and there is another couple who knows that experience and are now helping them get through. Also when his wife had breast cancer, it was the women who knew what it’s like that helped her the most. Anyway, I didn’t mean to be long-winded here, but I have seen this year that in the midst of all the adversity, your posts are even more encouraging. And they already were! So write on, dear friend. I love this post encouraging us to be rather than do. I long for this with you! – “But, when we choose to dwell with Jesus, we will more clearly reflect His love to those around us.” Love and blessings to you!
Trudy, thank you. It’s only been recently that I’ve been able to call what I’ve been feeling “anxiety.” But it is. I’m working on it. It sounds like your pastor’s message was filled with wisdom. I love how God truly does use 2 For 1:3-4 in the lives of His children. (“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”)
Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement. They’re a blessing!
This really spoke to me this morning. Besides all the normal things to do, I’m having major surgery on Friday and feeing the need to get as much done before then as possible. But I know the answer is to be first with my Savior and what gets done will be enough. Blessings!
Donna, I’ve been praying for you since I read your comment yesterday. I know that tendency to push to get everything done so there’s less stress on the other side of surgery. Yes, making our first priority time with Jesus is good counsel any time of year. Praying for you this week!
So enjoyed your heart-sharing, my friend. Love you! 💚🤗
Thank you, my friend! I always appreciate your visits!
All so true, Jeanne! Being instead of doing is something that I need to be intentional about every season! 🙂 Working now 40 hours a week, and add travel time, my time feels like it is not my own anymore. And I’ve had to modify my list, taking things off the list, at least until I get used to the schedule and newness of it all (so feel less tired). I like your question about purposefully blessing another this season. I’ll be keeping that prayerfully in mind until it is revealed to me!
Lynn, you know my heart is with yours when it comes to being intentional in every season! I imagine there are a lot of new mindsets for you as you figure out how to do life with a 40-hour/week job. That’s a huge transition in how you think about your time, your energy, and the things you want to get done. YOu’re smart to modify/reduce your list until you have a good feel for your “new normal.”
It is hard to enjoy the season when there is always so much work to be done, but for myself, I find that happens on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It seems all the busyness is in the preparation leading up to the holiday, but once the holiday is actually here, everything grinds to a halt and we can just enjoy it.
Amy, I’m getting to the place that I find I can have everything done by about that same time. That makes it easier to relax for the actual day we celebrate Christmas. Now to make sure I don’t take on too much leading up to the 24th. 🙂
I’ve learned I’ll never have a Martha Stewart Christmas 😆. And that’s ok. I don’t decorate much, although I enjoy seeing other people’s decorations. We don’t spend much on gifts (who need financial stress?!). I’m learning to be a blessing to others by asking how I can help rather than assuming I know the answer. May the peace of Jesus nestle is not your heart as you navigate the season and all it’s changes.
Anita, I won’t ever, ever have a Martha Stewart Christmas either. My decorations haven’t seen the outside of their bins in years because we haven’t been here for Christmas. But this year, I think, I will pull some out. They’re old, but that’s okay. I love your choosing to be a blessing to others by asking how you can help. That’s such a great perspective! Thank you for that prayer. I’ll take it. 🙂
I remember that feeling of the wheels coming off all my beloved traditions as jobs and new wives and geography intruded upon our family! It was like trying to rebuild a henhouse in a windstorm! It’s gone from “When can we decorate the tree?” to “Who’s here for Christmas day?” There’s grace for it all, but it comes with some feeling of loss–and I am still in learning mode, too.
Yes, Michele, your description of the wheels coming off the traditions really fits! We’ll navigate this, just as we do everything, right? With Jesus. And yes, sometimes we must prioritize the questions we ask. I’m so glad I’m not alone in this learning mode as our family transitions. 🙂
That kind of contentment is often hard to come by, but especially this time of year. It’s hard to cut things out when they’re filled with nostalgia and tradition. May God give us wisdom in how to use our time, but more importantly, may we remember that fellowship with our Creator, Redeemer, Savior, is the most important part of our lives.
Barbara, it can be challenging to cut things out when the traditions and nostalgia from past years encourage us to do them. I’m learning to take each activity to the Lord and ask if this is something He would want us to do. And, I’m learning to decide if that activity will add peace or stress to our Christmas season and to my heart. I love your reminder of the top priority of fellowshipping with our Creator, Redeemer, Savior. That is the main thing, isn’t it?
This is the day I will begin to get out all our decorations and begin to prepare our home for Christmas. But more so, I want to prepare my heart, stilling my heart in His Presence each day. I so appreciate this beautiful reflection, Jeanne. May we do less and be more – more of a reflection of His peace and love.
I hope you enjoyed decorating and preparing your home for Christmas, Joanne. I also appreciate your reminder of the importance of preparing our hearts by being in Jesus’ presence daily. I’m definitely defining what my doing and my being need to look like this year.
There’s no doing, there’s no being,
just the hell of every day,.
There’s no refuge, there’s no fleeing
the dread price I have to pay.
There’s no shopping, nor a tree,
there’s no cider with good friends,
there’s not anything for me
‘cept to know the journey’s end
that will leave me scarcely breathing
on some vinyl bathroom floor,
wishing, yes, but not receiving
just to see a little more
of the life I sought to treasure,
hostage now, to God’s own pleasure.
I’m sorry. Praying for His grace.
A hostage situation I look forward to in God’s perfect timing. I lift you in prayer, Andrew. Your poem is harsh because it is real. Your poem is real because life can be real and right before our faces when we just open our eyes. Caring through Christ, my friend, ~ linda @ Being Woven
Andrew, I so appreciate the raw honesty of your poem. You and Barb continue to be in my prayers daily, my friend. I’m sending very gentle hugs your way.