- Busy-ness overload -- 5 services on Christmas Eve, 1 on Christmas Day, a family reunion in Coos Bay, Oregon on the 26th, a 5 day hockey tournament for Levi in Vancouver, B.C. on the 27th...New Year's Eve back in Seattle with a big weekend of services...No kidding...
- Shopping pressure. I better get going because I haven't done much shopping yet, and I have many nieces and nephews, and my own kids. The shopping could be fun, but at the same time we have the stress of many additional expenses this month with sports dues, hotel costs (for the hockey tourney), gas prices, etc.
- Missed work -- Whenever you miss days, you have the sense of falling behind (and you do fall behind -- especially when going into a busy month).
OK -- I'm done complaining -- How about some proactive thoughts? Feel free to list your own as comments. Here is my advise to myself.
- RELAX, in the busy-ness. Have fun shopping. Enjoy the drive with your family. Celebrate the 5 services on Christmas Eve. Don't worry about next week...
- Schedule personal, quality time with the Lord! This is the key. What I mean by this is digging deep with time in the Word, in prayer and in journaling. THIS will make all the difference. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with prayer and petition..."
- Focus on people. Wherever you go, make the most of special times with your wife, children, friends, family, and acquaintances. People are more important than any"thing".
- Eliminate time wasters that aren't refreshing. Put important things before TV, websurfing and other wasteful activities.
- Find joy in the moment. Don't focus on what you're not doing. Instead, enjoy what you are doing.
- Bring the Lord into the conversation -- catch up on Advent, share the Christmas story, and pray with one another.
These are the things I want for Christmas. And they don't cost a penny. Maybe this advise will help you as well. Merry Christmas!!!!
1 comment:
It's hard when it's so busy. I hate it when important things are the first to slip in my schedule. But God sure gives me grace in those areas. Thanks for the advice though. I take it to heart.
Post a Comment