Friday, December 8, 2023

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

Illustration by Ryan Wooley, age 9

As a busy mother of young children, the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas often feels like a marathon race instead of a time of sacred reflection on the advent of Christ. We must coordinate the perfect holiday outfits for the family photo, order the Christmas cards, buy the teacher gifts, and decorate our homes like an Instagram influencer.

The pressure of doing all the things that we convince ourselves are so important to our family’s holiday memories and traditions often leads to an overflow in us of something that feels very much unlike hope — resentment of our to-do list; frustration with our loved ones when they do not buy into our mission of a perfect holiday; stress as we cram more events into an already packed schedule; and ultimately a longing for it all to just be over.

I am making a promise to myself this advent season. I will give myself permission not to do all the things. Instead, I will leave space. Space for joy.  Space for peace.  Space for rest.  And, most importantly, space for God. And in doing so, I pray I will create an invitation for hope to overflow.

Dear God, so often during the holiday season our focus is on anything but You. We feel so much pressure to create memories and maintain holiday traditions that we often do not leave any room for rest, wonder, and reflection on the miracle of Jesus’ birth.

Dear God, I pray this holiday season that I will be able to resist the urge to do it all and instead leave space in my schedule and my heart for You. Please let me experience joy that comes from true connection, peace that comes from quiet reflection, and a hope that can overflow and fill the world around me. Amen.

Kim Overcash

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