Pace Yourself 12.4.22
The Christmas Season is upon us and I’d encourage you to pace yourself. There will probably be more concerts, events, socials, pageants, invitations, and special activities than you are going to be able to attend. All these festive events make the season special and are great opportunities to celebrate with family and friends. But, they can also create unnecessary pressure and stress. You can’t, and shouldn’t, do everything. This is a season to enjoy! We are celebrating the birth of our Savior. The One who not only has forgiven our sin and promised us eternal life, but has also assured us that He will be with us as we walk through this earthly life. He’s the One who has promised us “peace” not “stress.”
It’s so easy to get caught up in the trappings of this time of year. The feeling that we have to please everyone, find the perfect gift, attend everything to which we are invited. In fact, I know some people in the past who have lost all the joy of the Season and actually began to resent all the things that should have been bringing a sense of gladness.
A few suggestions my friends. 1) Know your limits. That applies not only to time but to finances and emotional energy. 2) Don’t try to do it all yourself. Ask for help. Don’t let your pride and perfection drive you. 3) Realize it’s okay to simply say “no.” You don’t need to give an excuse or apologize. 4) Remain flexible. Things don’t always go as planned, and you know….that’s okay. Finally and most importantly; 5) Jesus promised to give us the gift of “peace.” He is the Prince of Peace. So keep Him in the center of everything and if you begin to lose your peace during this hectic season, take that as a warning sign that you need to slow down, revaluate and make some adjustments.