Do you feel stressed when you think about the Holiday Season?

I love Thanksgiving & Christmas and this season of giving. I love celebrating Jesus coming to earth for us. For me it is a time of remembering His life, death. and resurrection. It’s a time of gratitude for Christ’s unending love towards me and showing that love to others by giving and spreading the true joy that Christ gives.

I’ve had changing thoughts over the years as I’ve considered the Holiday Season and how to celebrate it. It’s so commercialized, should we celebrate at all? Should we celebrate Hanukkah or Christmas? How do we keep it meaningful? How can we make it enjoyable and not just a flurry of activity that creates stress?

The answer eludes me, but I do purpose a few things.

• Gratefulness (Is this the reason the season starts with Thanksgiving)
• Celebrate Jesus’ Coming
• Intentionally spend time with family
• Make it a time for meaningful traditions (it’s ok to lay aside those that aren’t)
• Give as many ways as I can
• Keep it simple
• Enjoy it and let it happen without micromanaging or trying to make it perfect

I would love to hear from you. How do you do the Holidays and keep them enjoyable?