Be blessed instead of stressed this holiday season
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
-- Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Does preparing for the holiday festivities have you tied up in knots?
As the holiday stress mounts, let's look at ways to be blessed rather than stressed. I learned a long time ago as a nurse manager in order to manage stress, I needed to make a list.
Defining and refining our priorities could help us to determine what our priorities really are. I know list making takes time, but it can save time in the long run.
God calls us to be good stewards of our time. Listing everything from decorating the tree, to baking our favorite cookies, signing and sending cards and parties we will be attending could help us take a good look at all the activities on our limited timetable.
Experts advise placing a priority number from one to 10 next to each thing on our list so when time gets tight, we can look at what doesn't have to be done and eliminate it.
As we look over our list, pondering the important question, "what is the worst that could happen if I don't get all of this done?" can help us keep things in proper perspective.
While shopping, searching for the prime parking space can sometimes be a time waster. As we circle the lot for the fifth time, why not park in the back in the first place and decide to get some exercise. By the time we browse through the lot and wait for the right spot, we could have gotten to the door. We could skip one trip to the gym and get your exercise and shopping done at the same time.
How much time are we spending on tree trimming and decorating? At difficult times in my life, I had to use a little ingenuity. Like letting go of the tradition of a large tree and downsizing the size of my tree and the amount of decorating.
As we list our activities let's discuss a few possibilities. Maybe we send 100 cards each year. Yet, this year we are low on cash or time. We can pray over our list and ask God who we could eliminate. If money is tight, making a gift list and prioritizing can help. Although it is more blessed to give than receive, giving out of obligation rather than heart motivation isn't the best way to give. Pray about who we may be able to remove from the list and remain within out budget.
When our anxieties and thoughts threaten to overwhelm us, we should remind ourselves of the Scripture we were given by the beloved apostle, Paul: "Be anxious for nothing" and ask God for his help and wisdom in our tasks.
May you find the blessing in all your holiday preparation this season.