2 Thessalonians 3:16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
'Tis the season to be frazzled . . .
The potatoes are boiling over on the stove. The kids are fighting over the television. The cat is in the Christmas tree. Again! The dog is yapping. Your phone rings . . .
Tempers roasting on an open fire . . .
From parking lot to department store, the mall is packed. You maneuver precariously through the shoving, pushing crowds. Stand in endless lines to make purchases. Spy the exact sweater your daughter wants only to have a woman jump in front of you and yank it from the rack.
You want to scream!
And, maybe utter a few choice words you know you shouldn't . . .
Oh, what fun to ride and sing . . .
Stuck. In rush hour traffic. Car horns blaring. Kids in the backseat singing Jingle Bells. Non-stop. You have a whopping headache.
You think you just might be in the place that rhymes with "bell".
And, presents on the tree . . .
Gifts to wrap. Cards to send. Parties to attend. Parties to plan. Cookies to bake. Presents to mail.
Your day is a whirlwind. Your mind, a spinning top. Dashing here. Dashing there.
When will there be time to even breathe?
Hark! The herald doorbell rings . . .
Guests! Family! Friends!
Food! Fun! Fellowship!
Pots! Pans! Plates! Piled higher than Mount Everest. In your sink. On your counter. On your table . . .
Peace on earth and mercy mild . . .
Hubby hugs you. Offers to clean up. Kids, uncharacteristically, volunteer to pitch in.
Go. Sit. Put your feet up.
Relax . . .
Sleep in heavenly peace . . .
Snoozing in the Lazy-Boy. Warmly wrapped in a quilt.
The touch of small hands on your head. The softest of whispers.
"Good night, Mommy. Sleep tight."
Sleep in heavenly peace . . .
~
Is the hectic pace of the season marring your heavenly peace?
Let's go to the Lord in prayer:
With all the demands of the season, Father, we sometimes forget how important it is to rest in Your peace, the peace which passes all understanding. Help us to slow down, to take time, to reflect, and spend time with You each and every day. Amen.
Readings
Psalms 30, 32 or 42, 43
Isaiah 8:1-15
2 Thessalonians 3:6-18
Luke 22:31-38
Nice post. Yeah, we all need to take a break and rest for a while so that we are rejuvenated to dive in again into the ocean of chores.
ReplyDeleteSo true Martha! We all need to take time out each day to reconnect with God and our inner self.
ReplyDeleteThe hurried frenzy of the season- finding gifts, baking, cooking, trying to keep up with scheduling in all of the festivities, can definitely take the peace away from preparing our hearts for its true meaning. I know I oftentimes don't even look forward to Christmas, because such distractions so loudly clamor for my attention and I just see it all as so materialistic and superficial. May we all return to the real meaning of the holiday and find rest and peace in God as we open up to Christ within.
ReplyDeleteHi, Janu, Nelieta, and Jessica, and thanks for posting here today!
ReplyDelete@Janu - I agree! All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, as the saying goes. Rest is so important!
@Nelieta - If my day is so rushed that I feel that disconnect with God, I am nothing but disconnected within. If I'm going to rush, I need to rush back to Him! :)
@Jessica - Your observations are exactly why I wrote this devotion. We DO get so caught up in the "have-tos" of the season, but we actually should never let them drive us. We should be driven by our need to be closer to God as He draws closer to us in the birth of Jesus.
Blessings to you all and thanks again!
I love it Martha! I'm dashing, dashing, dashing about to bring good cheer too others this Christmas season! I feel blessed and appreciated more from my clients then my own children. Two blessings: At least I have jobs and healthy children. But all this is exhausting!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Cathy
Whatever we may be doing in life,and no matter how busy we may be,we do need to find time to connect with God,and ourselves...its important for our own inner development.
ReplyDeleteGreat post as usual,Martha.
I love, love, LOVE the way you wrote this up... mixing the song lyrics with your story. Your message sung to me. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Cathy, Alpana, and Rachel, for dropping by today and leaving such wonderful comments!
ReplyDelete@Cathy - By the sound of things, this post could have been written just for you! :) I hope you can take some time out this season just for you . . .
@Alpana - Thanks for the compliment! Yes, in order to keep growing spiritually, we have to stay connected. It's a must!
@Rachel - So glad this post "sang" to you! :) I was so hoping it would to all my readers. And, thank you for your kind words.
Blessings to all!
Martha, the mad rush of the season has marred my peace for a long, long time. How did a season so sacred become such an occasion for stress? Never mind. I know the answer.
ReplyDeleteWhat a true picture you painted here of the season’s madness.
Thanks, Debra, for stopping by. I know you know the answer; we both do. Thanks for your kind compliment on how the picture was painted here. It's a part of my life I regret rushing. Trying to keep all to a minimum now.
ReplyDeleteIs that possible? :)
Blessing to you!