I truly do want to relax and take in the season and keep my heart in a healthy place. I want to love and honor Jesus with my family. Nothing more.
I’m guessing that’s your heart as well. I know for sure that stressing about my house or the gifts or reading through some book that isn’t required of me will not help.
The freeing thought is this: nothing is required of me. None of it is a requirement to honor the coming of Jesus. All Jesus wants is our hearts and our open-handed devotion.
The Bible doesn’t tell us how to commemorate Christmas on purpose, lest we turn it into a mindless ritual like everything else.
There is no checklist. The Bible tells us how to live, and it’s the same on Christmas Day as it is in the middle of an ordinary summer day.
Love Him, love people. Share the good news of the gospel.
What truly brings joy in this season without a hint of angst or stress? Do those things.
If it’s making cookies and delivering them around. Do that. But if getting messy in the kitchen with your kids gives you hives and makes you want to yell at everybody? Leave that out.
What honors the coming of Jesus? Do that.
Jesus doesn’t need our Christmas mantles, He simply wants us.
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This article originally appeared at The Masterpiece Mom.
