Dear sweet mama,
I know that we may
not know each other. If we passed by one another in the store we may not
even make eye contact. It’s not because we don’t want to look at each
other, it’s just that we’ve got so much we are trying to remember to do.
We are probably juggling at least one child and trying our best to keep them
from grabbing unwanted things and throwing them in the cart.
I want you to know
that even though it doesn’t seem like it, someone sees you. I
see you. I see how you’re trying to juggle it all.
Shopping. Baking. Wrapping. Cleaning.
I see how you’re
giving it your best effort to teach your children the real meaning behind this
beautiful season. Jesus.
But it’s hard,
isn’t it?
I want you to know
that it’s okay that everything doesn’t get done. It never does, does
it? Even despite our best efforts, something always gets left
undone.
And it’s okay.
This Christmas
season my prayer for you isn’t that you get everything done. It’s that
you take moments to breathe. That you take this all in.
I know it’s hard to
stop and just be during this busy season. I know that
even when you are trying to push everything aside and be present with your
family, in the back of your mind you’re still going through your to-do
list.
I get it. I
am right there with you. But let's not miss this precious time because of
our shopping and Christmas to-do lists. Oh God, I pray I remember to
breathe in these precious moments. Help me to savor this time.
As you prepare for
the busy week ahead, here are the things I am praying most for you:
I pray you snuggle
up under cozy warm blankets with your kids, and hold their little hands, which
are probably sticky from eating too many candy canes, and you breathe in
these moments.
I hope you get to
sit back and not worry about the mess that is being made, and you watch your
children light up with joy as they open their presents. A joy
that cannot be taken away.
I want you to soak
up the smells of your mother’s home cooking and your aunt’s famous
dishes. Those are the smells that fill the house with a warmth and love
that cannot be recreated. For those smells won’t be there
forever.
I pray that beyond
all the chaos of toys on the floor and wrapping paper everywhere, you
remember The One whose birth we celebrate, never intended for
you to be overwhelmed with anything other than joy and thankfulness during
this sweet season.
Our kids won’t remember
that everything didn’t get done. Or that the house was a mess or that your cake
never did get baked for the work Christmas party.
But they will
remember the moments you create with them.
They will remember
snuggles on the couch and staying up late watching Christmas movies. They will
remember singing Jingle Bells and Silent Night at the top of their lungs on the
way to look at Christmas lights.
They will remember that this season isn’t about us at all. It’s
about Him. Our sweet Jesus.
So to my dear,
precious mama at Christmas time, I know you may be overwhelmed with your
running lists. I know you’re worn out from school parties and wrapping
presents and helping put on the church Christmas play.
But, don’t miss
this.
Every year I look
back after Christmas has passed and I think to myself, what was I doing
the whole time? I feel like I missed it.
But not this year. This year I will be intentional about Christmas.
I will sit down in
the wrapping paper mess and play with my girls.
I will bake a
birthday cake for Jesus.
I will hold my
husband’s hand as we watch our girls play with their gifts.
I will sit back and
breathe. And enjoy. And I will be thankful for the
blessings we don’t deserve in so many ways.
And mostly, I will
be reminded that this time, although it is fun, has meaning because of Him
{Jesus} and not because of anything I could ever do.
Dearest mama, let
us not miss it this year.
I am praying this
for you and so much more. I wish you and your family a very Merry
Christmas and a blessed New Year!
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