Allyson King, KGM Team Member

One Christmas years ago when I was a young mother, family obligations that involved traveling across the state left me exhausted, overwhelmed and frustrated.  When we finally returned home, I turned to my husband and cried, “I don’t even like Christmas anymore!”  Okay, maybe I was being a little melodramatic, but that is really the way I felt in that moment.

I’m blessed to have a husband who did not brush me off as I cried out in frustration.  Instead, he suggested we make some changes the next year in order to have better family balance.  Those changes have helped tremendously.  While our schedule has varied over the years, we have tried hard not to overcommit and leave room for downtime.

Yet, there are times I still struggle around the holidays as emotions and expectations overtake me.  I found that I needed something beyond a schedule change to give me the right perspective.

The thing that has made the biggest difference over the years is making it a priority to focus on the true reason for the holiday season — JESUS!

Although I try very hard year-round to focus on and worship the King of kings and Lord of lords, during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is imperative that I make a concentrated effort to spend time in God’s Word and prayer.  Choosing to honor Him with my time helps me have the right attitude as the chaos of the holidays washes over me.

Several years ago, someone suggested the idea of Advent resources to keep me on track during the holiday season.  Advent is the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, usually beginning December 1st, to commemorate the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.

As I considered the season of Advent, the Lord impressed upon me that He wanted me to study who Jesus is by looking at His names in Scripture.  Studying those names made a great difference in my heart as I navigated the holiday season.

Christmas is one of the toughest times of the year for many people. Memories of lost loved ones can cause melancholy and family tensions can trigger distress.  Emotions are heightened, and small grievances can grow into huge incidences.  In addition, special events, parties and gatherings, which seem to be “mandatory,” create a perfect storm of stress and despair.

If your heart also struggles during this chaotic time of year, I pray that these suggestions will help you too:

1. Arrange your schedule to build in some downtime.
2. Find time to care for yourself whether exercising or maybe having lunch with a friend.
3. Make it a priority spend time in God’s Word and prayer.
4. Choose to focus on the true reason for the season — JESUS!

Christmas Resources to keep your Focus on Jesus

Christmas Journal/Devotions and Recipes

The Names of Jesus Advent Calendar/PDF