Mommy! It's Christmas Time!

It's almost Christmas!!!

While Daddy's life hasn't changed much this season, yours has.  It's the busiest time of the year for you, when you're trying to plan the baking, what your cooking, if you have enough forks,  how many diaper bags to pack, and how many families you promised a visit because they said: "you just have to come, even for a little while so we can see the kids".  I get it.  I remember.  I still have flashbacks of toting 3 kids to a million places so we could 'enjoy' the holiday together.  (No wonder I drank so much before I knew Jesus)

Now enter the stress of the overpriced gift requests and what to do when the stores are out of stock on the "top 10" items.  And because it's "Holiday Time", every kids school class, sports team, and your office, expect you to get one more gift, bring one more drink, bake one more dozen.... it's like an international conspiracy to convert you to insanity... and sometimes, it seems they're winning.

C'mere..... sit down... lemme give you a hug.  I know, I know.  We wanna be the best baker, bring the best grab bag gift.  We wanna make our kids so happy so we don't feel like we've failed.  Sometimes the exhaustion is just the place God wants us.... where we are so frazzled that we say "I give up".... that's right where He wants us.  That's the only time we will stop and re-examine things.  

As a mom, you are already an amazing multi-tasking, Pinterest-crafting, bargain-shopping, servant-hearted Mommy Machine.... but if the machine is overloaded and breaks... well... that ain't gonna be pretty.  Here are a few tips... just suggestions:

1) Jesus time.... you can't pour out, what's not poured into you.  Make it happen (even if you have to hide in the bathroom with a devotional book and a little prayer time)

2) "No" .... it's not a bad word.   It's ok not to go to every party or volunteer for every thing.

3) "Buy" the class or party treat.... for real.  I know you wanna dazzle with that secret Blue Ribbon recipe... but not at the price of sanity... it's not worth it... they want a nice mommy more than a Martha Stewart.

4) Shop online....yep... totally worth the time and crazy you save.

5) Share Jesus with your kids... share God's incredible gift.... and why we give gifts ....and why Christ is so so, so, so, so, much more important than an ipad we really can't afford.  Let's make them followers, not idolators.

6) Let Him shine more than the craziness.  Kids learn what they see.   All the Sunday School lessons in the world can't out-teach a Mom who learns balance, makes time with Jesus a priority, and keeps HIM the focus of Christmas.

Gracious God,

Hug this mommy tight.... remind her that her worth is in you, not in what she does... steal her away for quiet moments with you that will refresh and encourage her heart.  Help her learn to pause and consider before responding to everything... cuz what is good, isn't always what's best.  I pray she senses your love in a special way that shines to her little mission field at home.  Make this Christmas her best yet.  Thank you for the gift we could never out give... the life of Your Son as a ransom for our souls.  Amen