by Jess Connell · November 24, 2014

The holidays are upon us.

I made it all the way to Thursday when *BAM* someone says, “yeah, just one week until Thanksgiving.”

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!


Admittedly, this year I don’t have much to do for Thanksgiving. Several families are getting together, and so I have a turkey, and two other items, to bring. One of which I can make in advance and refrigerate. Easy-peasy (compared to the overseas years when I’d often be in charge of the whole enchilada, all by my poor little self).

But I got to thinking– we all have things we may dread about the holiday season:

  • Feeling like you have to please everyone with all the meet-ups and celebrations
  • Lots of food and treats to prepare
  • Trying to select the “right” gifts for each person on your list (some of whom you realize you need a gift for at the last minute)
  • Hosting people in your home for a get-together & all the prep-work that comes with that
  • For many, Pinterest-perfection-pressure increases during this time of year
  • Pressure to have good family pictures & send out cards
  • Trying to make the most of discipleship opportunities with our children, even amidst the stress
  • Travel to various commitments… perhaps even long-distance travel, which means packing, planning, stress…
  • Family events.
  • Church events.
  • Community events.
  • Busyness in general. Even a trip to the store FEELS busier because the stores are more filled with people.
  • A budget stretched tight to accommodate it all.

But what if we purposed…

(me, as I’m brining my turkey this week, and you as you’re traveling, or getting the kids to smile for that picture on your front porch, trying to choose foods that won’t make your postpartum body plump up to previously-unforeseen-heights, or attending the event you actually wish wasn’t on your calendar)

… what if we purposed to have thankful hearts?

What if we took to heart these verses, right here in the midst of our holiday season:

“Do everything without grumbling and arguing”
~Philippians 2:14

What if we applied it like this:

“Brine your turkey and pack your bags for the long drive, and get your extra shopping trip done, even the one to go back & get the forgotten ingredient, without grumbling in your heart and without additional arguments with your husband and children (that includes your mom or mother-in-law)”

Or what about if we took this one:

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

~Colossians 3:17

translated it in our brains, and became:

In every conversation you have, whether with the grocery clerk, your child, or too-chatty Uncle Phil, and in every action you take, whether rushed or well-planned, do it all EVERY COMMITMENT… EACH INSTANCE OF CORRECTING YOUR CHILD… EACH TASK… CHORE… EXCITING EVENT… “BORING” COMMITMENT YOU WISH YOU HADN’T SAID YES TO… do it ALL with the idea that Jesus can be glorified
MAGNIFIED, made to look as incredible as He is, put on display to the world, uniquely praised, THROUGH YOU– your thankfulness, your joyful countenance, your calm spirit amidst the crazy, your rest in God even in busy days– BECAUSE YOU HAVE GENUINE THANKFULNESS TO GOD.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO LET CHRIST SHINE IN YOU!

We can do this.

You can do this. This week. During Thanksgiving. During Christmas.

We can’t do it on our own, but we CAN do it, because He commands it, and His commands are not burdensome. He not only tells us to do it, but He gives us the strength and the fruit of the Spirit to enable our obedience.

SO:

  • When the toddler throws a tantrum and you don’t want to have to deal with it because you’re getting to visit with someone you haven’t seen in ages, stand up yet again, mama, and go deal with it — without grumbling, and with thanksgiving.
  • When the edges of the pumpkin pie burn because you were cleaning and didn’t hear the timer go off, you can magnify Christ. You can counsel your heart with truth: “He is perfect; I am not.  I don’t have to labor under a burden of perfect performance.”
  • When a relative adds another layer of “must-do” on top of what you already thought was a stressful visit, you can rest. Rest under the leadership of your God, under the leadership of your husband, and within your role as mom. It may be that you don’t need to do that thing… or if you do, God will give you the strength you need to do it with a thankful heart. Really. This is not me waxing philosophical. I believe God can enable us to do this if we come to him with honesty in our hearts. “Show me ways to be thankful. Help me to even lead the children in finding things to be thankful about this that I initially did not see.”

NOW–

DON’T COMMENT ON THIS POST UNLESS YOU CAN DO IT WITHOUT STRESS AND WITHOUT IT TRAMPLING ON YOUR ALREADY-BUSY HOLIDAY SCHEDULE.

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Tags: commitmentsglorify Godholidaysstressthankfulnesstiredness