By Courtney Ingle
The Christmas season is upon us! Christians will celebrate the birth of our risen Savior, Christ our Lord. It is such a joyous season — and for Christians, one of peace, as we reflect on the promise of what that perfect baby in a manger represents.
But obligation, commercialism, and the busyness of the season can rob us of the opportunity to reflect and enjoy this fleeting moment. The dull roar of the December to-do list in our heads can be deafening.
So how do we slow down? How do we pull the emergency brake on the chaos carousel that is spinning us between parties, programs, presents, and more? Here are some things I’m trying this Christmas season to slow down with my family and embrace our time together.
Skip the Christmas movies – grab a book instead
Personally, watching a movie with my kids turns into a frenzied, clumsy reenactment of a cage match from the ’90s. So this year, we’re skipping it. We will check out a few Christmas-themed books from the library and spend the month of December reading together. It may not happen every night, but it will create a moment of simplicity, and the kids will get a kick out of animating our voices to match the characters. Your family can also work through the book of Luke this month, paying particular attention to the birth of Christ.
Serve
Whether you’re helping someone from church clean up their yard, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or making paper ornaments for your neighbors, find a way to serve this season as a family. This doesn’t have to be complex or chaotic. A simple gesture will allow your family to experience the joy of giving to others in any capacity. By doing this, your family can live out Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Set down the screens
Every television show will have a Christmas special. Susan on Instagram will crack out her iconic decorations again, and TikTok will feature all the holiday hacks. But the constant consumption of information overloads us! Even if we’re sitting quietly while we scroll, we’re not present in the moment. We’re zoned out and missing the life in front of us. Set down the screens and slip out of the social media cycle for a bit this Christmas. Take the tablets away from the kids and work on Christmas crafts or cookies instead. Take this time to look at the real, meaningful gifts bestowed upon us daily. These are the gifts worth praising God over; He’s the original gift giver, as stated in James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
How will you slow down this season?
Courtney and her husband, Jeremy, live in Brandon and are members at Park Place Baptist Church in Pearl. They have a daughter, Taylor, and a son, Jacob. Courtney is a full-time homemaker and can be reached at courtneyingle89@gmail.com.