This is the time of year when we get wrapped up…wrapped up in the endless lists, the decorating, the fa la la-ing, school concerts, even the wrapping!
I find myself moving away from lights and cookies and gifts to cleaning and shopping and grumbling — oh my!
Instead of staying in this wrapped up place for the holidays, I am choosing to look for something different. Not the things I’m supposed to do. Not the things I feel burdened by, but the things that bring me joy.
Here are 5 things bringing me joy right now:
1. Books
I love to read, both for myself and to my family. Christmas is filled with great opportunities for beautiful books. You can find my two favorite kid books here and here. As for me, I love a quick read, after all, we’re busy this time of year. But it needs to draw me in and mean something. Richard Paul Evans is the perfect fit. Check out my favorite here.
(And if you’re looking for a devotional type book for you or the family Ann Voskamp has done a beautiful job with both. See them here and here.)
2. People
It’s really simple for me. I need my people. It’s important for me to make time for them instead of letting the holiday to-do list take over (it was never going to be done anyway!)
Enjoy your people. Sit with them. Laugh. Be in the moment together, even if it’s not perfect!
3. Our Thing
We all have family traditions. Some are amazing, and some are just routine. Find the things that make your family come alive.
Some years we love going to the Journey to Bethlehem at a church near us to remember what the season is really about. Other years it’s been all about Christmas cookies. Find one or two things that are favorites for your family and get those on the calendar!
4. Movies
Holiday movies run the gambit from funny to sappy to meaningful. Find ones your people love and watch them without any guilt!
Our very favorite for the whole family is Elf. I’m looking forward to watching a few new ones based on favorite books this year. (Check them out here and here)
5. Food
This one is tricky for me. I love to bake, and the holidays is the perfect time for that. Except I’m trying (so hard) to be healthier. And when I bake I struggle.
I’m looking to find a balance this year so I can still do something I enjoy without giving up on my health goals. I will not eliminate baking completely because it does truly bring me joy!
Find the things that bring you joy and embrace them! Fit the other things in only if you want to! Click To TweetThere are other beautiful, wonderful things I could add like gift giving and twinkly lights under the snow and the way those light projectors look in the trees. I will celebrate those beautiful things as they come, but finding what brings joy helps us remember what to focus on.
What would be on your list? Share it here because we could all use some true joy!
Check out these great sites I’m linking up with: Literacy Musing Mondays, Purposeful Faith, Tea & Word Tuesday, Tell His Story, Porch Stories, Let’s Have Coffee, Worth Beyond Rubies, Moments of Hope, Tune in Thursday, Dance with Jesus, Fresh Market Friday, Faith ‘n Friends, Blogger Voices Network, Grace & Truth, Heart Encouragement
Amen to enjoying our people. Especially the ones who surprise us, the ones we gather with weeks before the 25th, and the broken ones who simply need to be heard …
YES! May we celebrate and be present for All of our people.
I love all 5 of these things too, Rebecca. You summed it up so well! I don’t know what other joys I would add, other than making these specific to our own family.
Thank you friend! I pray your Christmas is full of joy!
I am having that same struggle with baking right now! I want to bake up ALL the goodies but I really really don’t want to eat them all.
Rebecca, it is nice to read alternative ways to look at this time of year…to find joy in the simple…time with family…loving what we do and are. Especially with COVID-19, these are even more important to me too. I have family in CA and HI…I live in TX so seeing family is not an option. I am loving this season because I am alone and doing precious things that I have not done in years. God is good, reminding me of His beauty and the celebration of Christ Jesus.
Family brings me great joy, so I’m spending extra time with family this season—our grandson is four, and I love spending time with him (even if it means cold, dark days in Alaska!).
Thank you for sharing your joy Rebecca and encouraging us to lean into the simple things that really are joyful. One of our favorite traditions is driving around together, looking at Christmas lights, and singing Christmas songs. We also like caroling to friends and neighbors with a small baked treat and acting out the Nativity on Christmas Eve. Have a merry Christmas!
Sounds like we would “Christmas” well together. I love all your things!