Calendar Clarity: Focusing on What Truly Matters this Christmas

When was the last time you asked yourself, “Is this a good idea? Should I consult somebody else before I do this?” And then, without thinking or consulting anybody, you just went ahead and did it? Sometimes, the results turn out okay, as in the time I planned and executed a personal retreat (by myself and for myself) and sometimes the result is not nearly as good, as in the time I bought clothes that didn’t quite fit, hoping they’d be motivation for me to stick to my diet plan. As we head into the month of December, and the busy-ness of this season, I want to encourage us to think through our decision-making processes for what we are allowing on our calendar and in our lives this month. 

First and foremost, our focus should be on Jesus, and the hope we have in Him. It is so easy to be distracted by all the “things” we have to do to prepare for Christmas. I confess that I want the cozy, beautifully decorated house, the homemade cookies, finding gifts that will make the recipient feel loved, the fun activities that come with the season, and if I’m honest, many times those activities take precedence over me taking the time to wonder at the miracle and gift of Jesus. Now I’m not saying those things aren’t important, but they shouldn’t take the place of spending time preparing our hearts to connect with the Savior whose birth we are celebrating. 

So, let’s look at our December calendars and really be intentional about how we schedule our time and activities to make the most out of it. What are your priorities for the season? 

-Write out a list of all the activities you want to do this Christmas season. What activities bring your family the most joy during the holidays? If your kids are old enough, ask them what Christmas activities they want to do this year.  I have college and adult kids now, and will send them a quick text, asking them for their top two to three activities they want to do when they are home for Christmas, and I’ll write those down. 

-Prioritize. How can you ensure that the true meaning of Christmas is at the forefront of your celebrations? For us, attending Christmas Eve Church service is a given, so that one can go directly onto the calendar. 

-Start adding your top prioritized activities to the calendar. Be intentional with your time. Christmas cookie baking, driving around in pj’s to go look at Christmas lights, attending the local Christmas parade -  if it’s a priority for your family, put it on the calendar.

-Make sure you have at least one day a week with no activities scheduled. We all need time for rest during the season. 

-Say no to other activities that you are invited to attend but would make your calendar too full. I have already said no to an activity that I was invited to, but attending would have added too much to an already busy week. Don’t just look at the days activities, look at the week as well.

I hope that you take some time this week to follow the steps above to plan out your holiday season. Let me know in the comments if this was helpful, and what your top priority is for this season. Make sure to come back next week as I’ll share some more Christmas goodness with you!