Does Advent feel like another burden you have to do?  Another thing on your to-do list, a list that’s never ending?  Another weight on your shoulders?  

Oh, sweet Mama.  I pray it’s not.  I pray this season you will rest in Him.  I pray you will take some time to stop doing and reflect.  Reflect on what was and what is to come.  Reflect and envision what this season could look like if you let God hold your hand and guide you.  If you stopped with all the unrealistic expectations that you place on yourself or you allow the world to put on your shoulders.  

But to stop you must quiet the noise.  The noise of what everyone else is doing.  The distractions of the modern world.  The noise of all that’s unfinished.  We must stop, pray and listen.  What does God want for you this season?  What does Advent mean for your family this year?  

Once you have a vision for what you want this season to look like you must make room.  You can’t do everything.  You have to determine what’s most important and do those things first.  It’s perfectly okay and even necessary to stop doing other good things to make room for your vision for this Christmas.  All too soon the new year will be upon you and this season will be lost if you don’t fight for what’s most important.  

Once you have your vision and room in your schedule then you must reach up and take God’s hand.  God is reaching down to grab hold of you and walk you through this busy season much like we take our children’s hands and hold on while we help them cross a busy street.  Don’t pull away from Him.  Let him have a firm grasp.  Don’t be run over this Advent season.  Rest in Him.  

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”