The Chaos in Christmas

 

I love Christmas time. The temperatures, the lights, the smells (oh.... the smells), the tree and even the family gatherings. I love the simplicity of the season. Yes! The simplicity. I know and have met so many people who complain. They are so exhausted mentally, emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually. Why? The Christmas season!!! I've never understood this.

Christmas was never meant to exhaust us in any way. It was never meant to make us stress; especially about finances.

We spend so much time trying to figure out who and what to buy for whom. We're out-doing what we bought last year. For some, it's out-doing the other side of the family, In-laws and the other parents. Fighting parking lots, patrons in stores and long check out lines. We then worry about our overdrawn bank accounts, drained savings and maxed out credit cards. Now, how does this contribute to the reason for the season? You're right! It doesn’t!! Not even in the slightest!

Anything that causes us stress, chaos and discontentment is not of God. It is not of anything godly. Satan works hard. He works very hard to rear his ugly face in any and all aspects of life. Every stinking day of the year. He is not confined to a certain time of year. He is not confined to a certain season. That's right.... He will in any way he can distract you from the true meaning of the season. This is when we lose focus. This is when we STRESS OUT!

But...... Let me tell you! It does not have to be this way!!!!!!!

Christmas is not about the presents. It's about the Presence! The presence of family. The presence of Love and most importantly the presence of GOD!!

I challenge you today, tomorrow and all Christmas Season. Stay focused on the reason for the season. The birth of Christ... As in Isaiah 9:6

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

(image borrowed)

Here are a few ways to help with teaching our children and ourselves (including me):

Teach our children why we celebrate the season as in Isaiah....

• Buy less..... My children will get one gift and stocking suffers. And, these are purchased at the after Christmas sales. (yes, I'm that Mom!!).
• Don't be afraid to give hand crafted heart felt gifts. (People love them)
• Make a bigger deal out of their birthdays
• Take the focus off the giving of gifts. Give to others. (make a Christmas meal & deleiver to a family who may not have Christmas dinner without it)
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• Volunteer on Christmas morning. (Salvation Army, Jesus House, Homeless Shelters, Soup Kitchens)
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• Use the money to purchase and pass out coats, gloves, scarfs, shoes, sandwiches, soups to the homeless. 

I pray this will help you as much as it helped me while writing it. Christmas is a wonderful spiritual time of year. That all started with the birth of a baby. Who was born to die. To suffer and die for our salvation.

Blessings,

Hollie Kate

 

 

 

 

Over Shooting The Target?

We have a dog. A big slobbering fur shedding hundred and forty pound teddy bear. We love this dog. Well....he does not know he is a dog. He is part of the Hendrickson family. And, he knows it. He is our brat! He is so smart. He is very protective. He a cuddling game playing sweet dog. With all this we get the fur. This dog sheds enough to knit a nice XL sweater on a daily basis. This is even when brushing him daily.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204666218648415&set=vb.1624173453&type=3&theater
(spike at this finest with the girls)

I wear a lot of black. Not sure this an intelligent move when you have a dog with a monstrous shedding issue and a cat.  Well let's face it. I am not a twig. And black, well it slims us, right?! So, I live in black and I had taken these perfect freshly washed and dried unwrinkled slacks and laid them lovingly on my bed. I go above and beyond to make sure my slacks do NOT have dog hair on them when I leave. I want to... Okay, I am OCD and I NEED to make sure they are free of dog hair. Of course and of anything else displeasing to the eyes or stomach. I would literally climb a mountain or swim an ocean (and I HATE water/swimming) to avoid this dog hair (but, I love this dog).

 

(Kielee & Spike) 

Anyway, I this particular morning I went through a lot to ensure hair free slacks. I was so focused on these hair free slack. I had showered, blow dried my hair. Applied my make-up. And, was standing in my room in my undergarments. Ready to take on the day ahead. You know it was one of those days. Where you are ready to face and take on the world. Because, You know this nice clean outfit that looks so good on you and makes you feel pretty darn amazing.  Yep, I am about to put it on!!!  I excitedly glanced over at these nice clean wrinkle-free hair-free slacks. Okay, things like this make me happy. Yes, I am aware I may be in need of some kind of medication. But, since that has not been diagnosed. I mean than anyone, only web MD. I'll continue to be excited about clean clothes and a clean house.  Well as I was basking in the happiness of the hair free slacks. I attempted, yes attempted to apply lotion to my lizard legs. That special kind of lizard legs, that only comes with the wonderful season we call winter. As I gently pushed down on my favorite bottle of lotion. The lotion came shooting out of the nozzle, like a bullet form a 357 magnum. It overshot my hand and over my shoulder and would you know it...... Onto the freshly cleaned, hair free slacks. Not just a normal small amount. But, enough to lotion a small child. UGH!!!!!! I was not the slightest bit pleased. I was so focused. I was so intently careful to make sure these slacks were perfect. And, in this split second they were trashed. Dirty and un-wearable. Still without dog hair.

Sometimes we hear people say "I knew at that moment God was speaking to me." Well, Seriously at that moment I KNEW!  There are so many times I have been so focused on that thing over there! Whatever that thing may be. I was so intently focused on those dog hair-free slacks laying over there. That I had missed the mark right in front of me. How many times have we missed the mark directly in front of us. How many times what that mark important. How many times if we had just focused on that mark we could have prevented the mess ahead.  More times than I can count on my fingers and toes. Okay, if were being honest I might count the hair on my head, too!

 

(Yes, this was me this morning)

I felt God telling me.... STOP obsessing on that over there. On the things up head. If you don't want to be messy then focus on the task in front of you. Because sometimes there will be slacks that are not dog-hair-free. And, that is okay. Just focus on what I have placed directly in front of you today. Focus on who I have placed in front of you today. And, tomorrow and the next day and the next day focus on that task. That person. And, watch how messes can be prevented. And, because God loves us. That is what he does. In Isaiah 45:2 he tells us this "This is what the LORD says: "I will go before you,  and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron." We need not worry. That is what he does. Instead do as instructed in Philippians 4:6  "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." 

So, I challenge you what I have challenged myself. To stop. To focus. To intently give all I've have to the task in front of me. The person in front of me. Because, at that moment that is what is important. And, do you know how to know each one of those moments are the most important moments. Are you breathing?  If you are reading this I am sure you are! Then, that is what makes it important. Everything we choose to do. Every minute throughout our life. We are exchanging a moment in time for. Focus on the moment. The right here right now moment. And, find the joy in each one. I vow to not miss another moment and to see the joy in the moment. The gift of the moment, the task or the person.