Figure out how to tone down the hustle and bustle and be able to really focus on Christ this Christmas. Focus on Christ this Christmas.
Once I become a mother, I found the Christmas season to be far less magical and a lot more stressful than it was in my childless days. Christmas Day, of course, is a magical time watching my children and their joy, but the rest of December is not.
I am talking about the weeks leading up to this magical day. Before I had kids, these weeks were filled with anxious anticipation and fun concerts and parties.
For a mother, these weeks are often less fun. The time and effort that goes into preparing for this day can easily leave me feeling like the Grinch.
As children, we were able to focus more on the happy feelings of the season, but as adults, we have shopping, wrapping, cooking, and planning to do.
This is the “most wonderful time of the year,” and yet so many find themselves more stressed and depressed than any other time. Sometimes it gets hard to feel that Christmas spirit with all that is going on.
Read: Keeping the Christmas Spirit as a Parent
I desperately want that spirit, however. I don’t think Jesus Christ would want the celebration of His birth to lead to anxiety and depression. I want a Christ-Focused Christmas for myself, and I want it for my children. I want them to be inspired to look to Christ and His life and to lift others around them the way Christ lifted others in His lifetime.
The biggest “trick” to keeping the Christmas spirit with you is to decide to have it with you. Here are some ways to make that decision easier.
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Ways to Keep Christmas Season Christ-Focused
1-Prepare Ahead of Time
I remember one year, my sweet great-aunt was deeply frustrated by the Christmas stuff being out so early. I know that is a common complaint among people. For me, however, it is fantastic. This helps me with my goal of being ready for Christmas early.
I try to have my shopping done before the end of October if possible. I have everything in place before Thanksgiving hits so I can better enjoy the holidays. I spread the work involved out across several months instead of several weeks. That way, I can focus on the reason for the season. Read more about Getting Ready for Christmas in 4 Steps
2-Have Meaningful Traditions
We have our cutesy traditions that are fun for family, but don’t point us to Christ necessarily. Those are things like decorating a ginger bread house each year, or getting an ornament that represents the past year. These aren’t bad traditions; they bring us closer to each other and strengthen our family bond. Those are definitely gifts to Christ.
Read all about our favorite Christmas traditions here.
This is the season, however, celebrating His birth. When it is my son’s birthday, we focus on him, not on everyone but him. Therefore, we also have meaningful traditions that help us focus on the birth of the Savior of the world.
One of our favorite traditions is going to see the Christmas Carol musical. It helps remind us to be charitable and loving toward others. Another tradition we have is listening to Christmas music. We have it playing most of the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it helps bring a sweet spirit to our home. Another is the Straw Bed for Jesus, which I will discuss below.
Read: Top Christmas Albums to Listen To
3-Have a Service Plan
There are so many ways you can implement service into your Christmas season. I love ideas that keep you focused on service every day rather than just a one-time deal. One of our favorites is a Straw Bed for Jesus. Each day, you discuss the service you did that day and add a piece of straw to the manger. Your goal is to have a soft place for the Baby Jesus on Christmas Day.
We have also loved doing the #LIGHTtheWORLD Christmas Initiative. The idea is you do something each day to emulate the life of Christ. It helps you stay very Christ-focused each day of December leading up to Christmas.
This year, I signed up for daily text reminders to remind me to do service with an idea of something to do that day.
Another fun one we have done many years is to do a 12 Days of Christmas for a family or individual. One year, we did a widow. For the 12 days before Christmas, we give a gift to the individual or family, along with a scripture. We have also done this with nativity sets, so each day we give a piece to a nativity set, ending the last day with the Baby Jesus.
You can choose some gifts to donate to the refugees or other people in need in your area.
There are so many ways to serve. Think of a way that would be meaningful to your family and also be possible for your current life season.
Read: 8 Ways to Give Back at Christmas
4-Read Meaningful Stories and Scriptures
Read Christmas stories and also scriptures that talk of the life of Christ. You can read a small bit daily to help keep your heart focused in the proper place. Some people do a book advent and read a different Christmas book each day leading up to Christmas.
You can act out the Christmas story and have your family dress up and be Mary, Joseph, shepherds, the angel…help your kids understand the story better by acting it out.
5-Simplify
The magic formula in life: Simplify. What is it you can cut back on to help you stay Christ-focused at Christmas?
For me, one of these things is not participating in the Elf on a Shelf. I already feel busy enough; I don’t need one more thing to worry about each day. This isn’t to say anyone who participates in the Elf on a Shelf is neglecting the Christmas spirit. We all choose to cut different things.
For me, it is the elf. For you, it might be Christmas cards. Maybe you won’t make every single party and recital on the calendar. Evaluate your to-do list and decide what just isn’t necessary. What is causing you stress and/or taking your efforts without providing adequate payout? Cut that.
Conclusion
Christmas can be and should be a time of great joy. These five steps can help you prioritize and keep your focus on feeling the Christmas Spirit the whole season through.