J.O.L.L.Y …. I bet you can even hear the old familiar catchy tune ringing in your head …. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, . …. fa la la la la, la la la la. The well-known lyrics in the first verse of Deck the Halls, the famous Christmas carol – a jolly, frolicking song of good cheer!

With that said, are you JOLLY right now or are you feeling too jaded to embrace the “jolly” frame of mind? Are you numb, stressed and totally confused? Are you overwhelmed with too much on your schedule {and on your plate – ugh that means weight gain – oh no – NO comfort eating please} or are you flat out paralyzed and don’t know what to do next?

Are you organized and pacing yourself or is life spiraling out of control? Do you find yourself rushing in circles or are you frantically running in the proverbial rat race of life like the little mouse in its never-ending spinning wheel, wearing himself out going nowhere and wondering what in heaven’s name you’re thinking?

Hey dear friends, if something I just described resonated with you, I get you. I totally understand how you feel. I’ve been in your track shoes – many times – and even more often I’ve been tempted to jump back into the same crazy “doing” mode that accompanies this time of year, but rescued myself from diving in – using reasoning, self-talk, prayer and restraint. The years I’ve reigned myself in, I’ve been more jolly, more fun to be around and more filled with joy within myself!

It’s not easy to become a “Mary” when everything in {and surrounding you} strains to be a “Martha” {read Luke 10:38-42}. Mary is in the moment and knows how to “be with” Jesus, while Martha is the sister who is busying herself “doing” but not being with Jesus, so she misses the moment – and then feels annoyed and resentful.

So what does all this have to do with jolly? EVERYTHING!

If we’re all so busy doing and going while operating in stress mode from holiday overload, how is it possible to enjoy the beautiful gift of Christmas and all the festivities that surround it, as well as gifting our best self to our loved ones? How can we be jolly, how can we be in the moment with family and friends when we’re constantly thinking about what comes next. What SHOULD I be doing? Why didn’t I do that – or you see something on FB and you wish you’d thought of that first? Or they’re doing something really cool and you feel you need to do it too, so you add another self-inflicted time-demanding burden!

STOP! I know it happens, I’ve fallen into the trap too. Ultimately we wear ourselves out on the “wrong” things. We end up wasted, stressed and resentful! We cheat our family and friends of our time and our precious presence.

Ask any of your loved ones what they want from you over the holidays and I’ll bet their answer is “YOU, your time and attention – your presence.” Simply being with them is the best mutual present of all.

In years gone by I’ve gone all out {like really over the top} with cooking, decorating, buying gifts and attempting to be the perfect wife, mom, grandma and entertainer! This year my family is coming to town and I‘ve given myself permission to chill out, scale back slow-down, to be discerning about what I take on and be more present in each precious moment – to give them the gift of “the best of me”… my time and my love, because I know that’s what they want and value most. I don’t want to miss out on a single minute of precious time in their company, even if it’s being totally crazy!

This year, after losing my mother, I’m reminded more than ever of some very basic principles in life. Time speeds by and waits for no one. Life passes by in a flash. It’s here one moment and gone the next. Life is fragile. It’s unexpected {even when it’s anticipated}. We’re not promised tomorrow and yet many of us are so focused on how we’ll spend tomorrow, we fail to bask in gratitude for today’s amazing grace and blessings! It’s all too easy to fall into the trap isn’t it? I know, I’ve been there and done it. The attraction of doing more, having more, earning more, buying more can be alluring, but the question is if it’s worth what one sacrifices.

When it comes to Christmas, I learned many years ago {but need constant reminders} it’s not the what, when and where of the season that matters, it’s the WHO and the WHY. Who I’m with, why we’re together, why Christmas is important and who matters. Do you agree?

This year we’ve declared our Christmas theme is “A Meaningful Christmas”. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds as our family joins us for the holidays. I wonder how each loved one will interpret “meaningful”? The gift exchange is “a meaningful gift”? What will each loved one choose for their respective recipient? How will they respond to the celebrations we have planned for them? I am filled with anticipation for a jolly good old-fashioned Christmas!

As we all become embroiled in the season, let’s not forget that the most valuable gift of Christmas is not purchased with money, wrapped up in a fancy package under the tree, stuffed in the stocking or stamped on a gift card …. the real treasure is the gift of our loved ones, their time and their presence, centered in hope. Hope in our savior Jesus Christ, who bought our gift of salvation with His precious blood.

My payer for you this season is a heart filled with gratitude, joy, faith, hope, peace and love.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”
Corinthians 13:13