As I spoke to my bestie on the phone the other day, she said to me, “I’m already getting nervous just thinking about the season coming up.”

Her worry sprang from an already bursting-at-the-seams schedule that was only going to get more cluttered during the holidays. I don’t think she’s alone in stressing about the Christmas season.

I know my mind is whirling like a carousel with galloping horses because the electric motor is over-stimulated. This week, my husband, our two teens, and I are traveling—to four different places, one of them being the other end of the country and another being the other end of the world. Just thinking of our schedules and the to-do’s is making me break out in a cold sweat.

Maybe you’re getting whiplash from riding that too-fast carousel too. Perhaps this Thanksgiving you have family visiting from out of town. Maybe you have so many groceries to unload that it feels like you’re feeding a small country. If you’re like me, you have all engines firing—every burner on the stove, every tray in the oven, the air-fryer, the microwave, the KitchenAid, the coffee machine, you name it. You’re riding on a high—till all of a sudden, you have what I call a “mommy meltdown.” Thanksgiving doesn’t feel very thank-full anymore.

Friend, if that’s you, here’s your reminder: it’s okay to slow down.

In fact, you actually need to slow down and perhaps even…wait for it…stop (Gulp. I said it).

Here’s the deal: You need to slow to be able to savor. You need to pause to be able to praise. You need to breathe to be able to behold blessings.

I know it feels like you can’t—or the world will fall apart. But without rest, there is no opportunity for gratitude.

When God paused—when He rested—He saw all He had made and said that it was good. (Genesis 1:31)

Friend, you don’t need a spiral-bound gratitude journal with pastel highlighters and pretty stickers. You just need a moment. To pause, to ponder, to praise.

This Thanksgiving, breathe in His rest and breathe out His praise to say, “Every good and perfect gift is from You.”

As November gives way to the twinkling lights of the Christmas season, may we be intentional in finding our rest and joy in Jesus.

Here’s a link to an Advent devotional I wrote several years ago called Making Space. It’s a 25-day plan on YouVersion that helps us focus on what’s truly important. I’m also attaching the soft copy of Making Space here if you would like to download it on your laptop or phone.

I would encourage you to take a few moments of each day of Advent to wait on Jesus. Even as you take quiet yourself before Him, may He remove the stress of the season and rekindle the joy of Christmas.

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.

 

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