Anyone who knows me well, knows December is my favorite month of the year. I am a genuine Christmas fanatic, one of those gals who gets swept away in the nostalgia of all things Christmas: carols, cards, family gatherings, Advent activities, baking, warm drinks on cold nights, fireside chats...you name it, if it’s Christmasy, I probably love it! However, there have been years past when I got too swept away, packing too much into 25 days, stealing the joy of the season, and replacing it with stress. When January 1 came, I was worn out and weary, rather than recharged and full. After experiencing a couple of hectic holidays, I realized a few ways I went wrong. Maybe you’ve been there, too, so I'll share what I've learned. Proper perspective is crucial. In an over-spending, over-calendared culture, keeping things simple definitely goes against the grain, and treasuring Christ in Christmas is a challenge. However, Christ is Christmas, and that first Christmas was pretty simp...
Encouragement for the journey.