Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
Psalm 95:6 ESV

by Stephanie K Adams

It seems each year the holiday season begins earlier than the year before and it gets more stressful as the demands to pull off a Pinterest-perfect event of epic portions weighs heavily on the shoulders of worn-out women everywhere.

Years ago, even before Pinterest and Pre-BlackFriday shopping was even a thing, a friend gave me a coffee mug that says, “Wouldn’t be the holidays without turkey and some stressing.” 

Boy, how true that can be. 

Just yesterday I found myself stressing over the ever growing To-Do list as I prepare for Christmas. 

• Wrap gifts
• Clean out fridge (this probably isn’t the time to admit to Thanksgiving leftovers)
• Baking with daughter
• Deliver baked goods
• Yet another Wal-Mart trip for items forgotten from the previous two trips (Lord, help me!)
• Groceries, again… because apparently I’m forgetful when I get stressed

And that’s when I realized something. Right there in the middle of my list…see it?  It says ‘baking with daughter.’ 

I was treating time with my daughter like a item to be checked off my to-do list rather than an opportunity to connect and make memories.

And I wondered how many other opportunities I would miss if I kept focusing on trying to create an event to be Instagrammed instead of stepping back, letting go, and spending time in the little moments of Christmas.

Instead of rushing through the holidays, checking off a list just to get through it, I want to stop and enjoy the people I’m with, listen to their words, but more importantly, hear their hearts. 

Here are just a few ways to avoid making Christmas a task, rather than an experience

• Press pause –  Slow the rush and focus on Jesus
• Be flexible –  Don’t make your adult kid’s hate Christmas
• Be present – Put down the phone, shut off social media, and truly be present with the people you love

This Christmas, I don’t want to check off a list – I want to make memories

What are some other ways we can be intentional this Christmas?

Share with me your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear your ideas.