'Tis the Season to Rest

Rest. It's what we all long for. The thought of it is what gets us through our long week. Rest is a beautiful concept; work finished, and there is time for self and others.

I believe that Christmas should be a time of rest. If no other time of the year, than Christmas it should be. Is there no better time to rest than during the season in which we celebrate the birth of the One who said, "Come to me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"?

Christmas is crazy, exciting, and wonderful. And, dare I say, magical? It is a season of hustle and bustle. Shopping trips, road trips, kids tripping over the Christmas tree branches as they go by; it's so easy to get caught up in it. This year, on top of it all, I've had some majorly sick kiddos.

I had such high hopes for this Christmas. Little Man's at that wonderful age where he's really starting to get holidays and birthdays. I wanted this, his first memorable Christmas, to be magical and amazing.

But, ultimately, it is my attitude that can determine whether we have the magical Christmas or not. It's when I stepped back, realized how much I had to be thankful for, and got my priorities straight, that I really was able to let go. I was able to lavish grace and love on my sick family. I reevaluated my Christmas expectations and simplified.

Simple Christmases are my favorite anyway.

I still had my moments. I get overwhelmed and tired. But what Christmas memory do I want to make for my kids? Everyone was sick and Mommy was stressed over every Christmas cookie and broken light strand, or everybody was sick, the decor was simple, but Mommy was peaceful, loving, and gracious, even if the cinnamon rolls were store bought instead of homemade from scratch?

I choose to rest this year. To be thankful. To set my mind on things above, on the grace of God that reaches down to man. Because that is what we're celebrating anyway, right?

'Tis the season to rest.