Christmas is literally just around the corner.  Are you prepared yet?  Have you checked off each and everything on your list?  For myself, I tend to be preparing, wrapping, and cooking down to the very last minute.  Yet I could look at this through a better lens.  I take every opportunity and use every spare moment in order to ensure the happiest of holidays for my family.

However you want to look at the long to-do list in your life, there is one thing that always makes me sad this time of year.  December goes by way too quickly, and there is always too much to do.  My days are filled with projects and never-ending work—when do I ever get the time to stop and really enjoy Christmas?  By the time I start to consider the holiday, the day is over and another new year is about to begin.

There are countless films that have been made to celebrate the Christmas season.  Some of my favorites include White Christmas, The Santa Clause, The Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Christmas in Connecticut.  And it is always wonderful when you can take an evening to enjoy some of these classic films, but I find that this favorite family pastime is also becoming even more difficult to achieve.  Why is this?

The hustle and bustle of life continues to dictate our schedules, and we never take the necessary steps to change it.  Perhaps we feel that we cannot modify the tasks that fill our day, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to try?  I heard this song on the radio today by Amy Grant that speaks on this very issue, and I wanted to share the lyrics with you.

I’ve made the same mistake before
Too many malls, too many stores
December traffic, Christmas rush
It breaks me till I push and shove

Children are crying while mothers are trying
To photograph Santa and sleigh
The shopping and buying and standing forever in line
What can I say?

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

December comes then disappears
Faster and faster every year
Did my own mother keep this pace
Or was the world a different place?

Where people stayed home wishing for snow
Watching three channels on their TV
Look at us now rushing around
Trying to buy Christmas peace

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

What was it like back there in Bethlehem
With peace on earth, good will toward men?

Every shepherd’s out in the field
Keeping watch over their flock by night
And the glory of the Lord shone around them
And they were so afraid

And the angels said fear not for behold
I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people
For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night
To end this crazy day with a silent night

I hope that this Christmas you and your family will consider the idea of not checking off every item on the list.  Instead, take that time you would have spent accomplishing other tasks and use it to consider something much more important—your family and friends.  Don’t let the stress of the season bring you down, because at the end of the day, Christmas is all about love and joy.  The love that Christ demonstrated to us.  He came down to earth to be born as a baby so that He could identify with mankind.  What a miraculous and humbling gift that is.  Each and every night, all I have to do is consider what Christ has done for me–then every part of life goes back to where it needs to be and my good perspective is restored.  Now that is something to celebrate!  I pray that each of you will find this same peace this holiday season.

Have a happy and wonderful Christmas!  And I will talk to all of you again in the new year!