There ought to be a warning label on the calendar somewhere around November 1:
CAUTION: You are now entering the season of pre-holiday insanity. Proceed with coffee, a warm blanket, and a generous supply of patience.
It starts innocently enough. You buy a bag of Halloween candy, blink twice, and suddenly you’re planning Thanksgiving dinner for 25, addressing Christmas cards, decorating the house, shopping for gifts (on-line), and figuring out where you stored the extension cords last January.
The holidays are supposed to be a season of joy, gratitude, peace, and celebration. Yet somehow, we manage to turn them into an Olympic event. We race through grocery stores, compete for parking spaces, and attempt to create picture-perfect celebrations that would make Martha Stewart proud.
Perhaps what we really need before diving headfirst into the holiday madness is something remarkably simple.
A deep breath.
In Genesis 2:7, we’re reminded that God breathed the breath of life into Adam. Every breath we take is a gift from our Creator. Yet how often do we rush through our days without stopping long enough to appreciate that gift?
Psalm 46:10 tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Notice that it doesn’t say, “Be busy, and know that I am God.” Or “Finish your shopping list, bake six dozen cookies, and know that I am God.”
Just be still.
That’s a difficult assignment for people who have convinced themselves that every holiday tradition must be accomplished before December 25. But maybe God is inviting us to trade a little activity for a little awareness of His presence.
Thanksgiving gives us the perfect opportunity to practice.
Before worrying about whether the turkey is dry, the dressing is perfect, or everyone will get along at the dinner table, we can pause and remember what the day is really about.
First Thessalonians 5:18 encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances.”
Not just when the gravy is lump-free.
Not just when the house is clean.
Not just when life is going exactly according to plan.
Gratitude changes our perspective. It reminds us that our blessings aren’t measured by the number of dishes on the table, but by the goodness of the God who provides for us.
And then comes Christmas.
Oh, Christmas! The season of twinkling lights, beautiful music, cherished traditions, and approximately 437 things on our to-do lists.
Jesus offers some wonderfully practical advice in Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”
Apparently, Jesus knew we’d eventually invent holiday shopping deadlines.
But Christmas isn’t about perfectly wrapped presents, elaborate decorations, or whether the Christmas cookies resemble the pictures on Pinterest (they don’t).
It’s about a Savior born in Bethlehem.
It’s about God’s love entering our world in the form of a baby.
It’s about angels announcing good news of great joy.
And it’s about peace.
Remember the shepherds? On that first Christmas night, they weren’t rushing between parties or comparing gift lists. They were simply watching their sheep when heaven interrupted their ordinary evening with extraordinary news.
Maybe we need to make room for that kind of interruption.
Maybe we need a few silent nights before Christmas Eve arrives.
Turn off the television. Put down the phone. Leave the wrapping paper alone for fifteen minutes. Sit beside the Christmas tree, breathe deeply, and remember why we’re celebrating.
Philippians 4:6 reminds us not to be anxious, but to bring everything to God with thanksgiving and prayer.
So before the pre-holiday insanity takes over, let’s pause. Let’s be thankful. Let’s breathe. And let’s make room for the peace that only Jesus can give.
Amy Grant captures this longing beautifully in her song, “I Need a Silent Night.” Its chorus expresses the desire for a holy, peaceful moment amid holiday chaos, when we can hear heaven’s message above the noise.
I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night
And perhaps that’s the best gift we can give ourselves this holiday season is this: a deep breath, a grateful heart, and a silent night.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us slow down when the holidays become overwhelming. Give us grateful hearts at Thanksgiving and peaceful hearts at Christmas. Remind us that Your presence matters far more than our preparations. Help us be still, breathe deeply, and celebrate the wonderful gift of Jesus. Amen.
If you enjoyed this article, then please REPOST or SHARE with others; encourage them to follow AFNN. If you’d like to be come a citizen contributor for AFNN, contact us at managingeditor@afnn.us Help keep us ad-free by donating here.
Substack: American Free News Network Substack
Truth Social: @AFNN_USA
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/afnnusa
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/2_-GAzcXmIRjODNh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfnnUsa
GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/AFNN_USA
CloutHub: @AFNN_USA