“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”  James 4:10 NIV

Christmas Worry

I have to be honest that sometimes I get discouraged when I think about preparing to celebrate Christmas. As a woman, it sometimes seems from my experience, that most of the preparation work falls on me. Decorating the house and tree, cleaning for company, shopping for gifts, wrapping, shipping gifts to those far away, writing Christmas cards, shopping for and preparing food, parties, church events, etc. The list can sometimes be exhausting. My heart gets anxious just thinking about it! Every year I tell myself I am going to be better at this, get a jump start on things early and not be overwhelmed. But somehow every year I get weighed down with worry. I don’t want to be this way!

This morning while talking with the Lord and sharing my anxious thoughts with Him about the upcoming holidays, God turned my negative thinking around. He showed me that this is our opportunity to shine as a woman for Christ and do what we do best. I think multi-tasking and some form of hospitality are gifts God gave to most women and this is a time to shine. Yes, I can ask for help from my family to make all the preparation work go a little smoother, but with the right attitude and a servant’s heart, I can celebrate this season of giving and love with a grateful heart. When I serve with a grateful and thankful heart, Christ fills me with His joy and peace.

I have come to realize that everything does not need to be perfect or homemade or wrapped as if Martha Stewart had done the work herself! Christmas can be a reflection of Christ’s love shining in our hearts and spirits. I can stop being busy long enough to take time to enjoy the holiday season and see all the joy it brings.

Thank You, Lord, for turning my negative thoughts around and showing me Your heart about women and Christmas. I look forward to being a servant in my own home to glorify You and bring joy to others.