The countdown is on.

10 days till Christmas morning.

 

December’s pace is SO difficult to SLOW DOWN because – you know- all the festivities and fa-la-la’s.

No one ever told me what December meant for a mama- as if our to-do lists are not long enough. (I already struggle with OVERCOMMITTMENT in the normal year- for the LOVE!)

This month we add, gold medal- Olympicized expectations of ourselves that only Superwoman could really achieve.

  • Have your house decorated to the nines and immaculately CLEAN so that at any moment you can welcome in a stranger, be featured in a home tour,or at least highlighted on an Instagram newsreel.
  • Be at every child’s performance, class party, and sports event and provide home -baked goods and cute little pinteresty hand-crafted goody bags for each participant and teacher/coach.
  • Bake Alton Brown award winning organic, gluten, dairy and sugar-free cookies with your kids, (but only eat veggies and kale yourself so you don’t have too many pounds to record on your new year’s resolution…)
  • DIY all your Christmas gifts for family & friends and wow others with your hand knit king-sized blankets for your tribe Christmas morning
  • Follow through with traditions from past years so the kids have amazing memories and have less baggage to talk to their counselors about in future years.
  • Say “YES” to every invitation for parties, gift exchanges, Santa sightings, and plays so that your family is FULLY cultured in all things ARTSY- like a family full of Renaissance people.
  • Fit in a service opportunity to give back so you don’t feel too guilty about all the THINGS that have gone on your credit card this month in the name of AMAZON.
  • Create a packing list and prep for traveling abroad, or gleefully welcome out of town relatives into your peaceful little casita.
  • Finally, Post pictures of cuddle time on the couch with blankets so that others think you’re taking it easy with your people and soakin’ in the peace of the season.

These are crazy high expectations we put on ourselves.

And I’m bummed at myself for year after year, falling prey to the lion of lies.

And so, like a 49ers referee I’m blowing my whistle and throwing a big “T” (on myself & you) for a TIME OUT.

And In my heart I  hear YOU say, “Breathe. ”

“What’s important? What do you really value? What can you say “no” to?

Johnny Diaz sings it on K-LOVE radio, but every time it comes on I turn it up because it’s Jesus’ words to ME!

BREATHE….just breathe.

Come and rest at my feet.

And be…just be…

Chaos calls ….but all you really need.

Is to just breathe.

All you really need is….

to take it in.

Fill your lungs

 It’s the PEACE of God that overcomes.

Just Breathe.

Let your weary spirit rest

Lay down what’s good and find your best

Just breathe.

 

Today I want to invite us to BREATHE. close our eyes, be silent, remember our Prince of PEACE who came in a quiet way. That simple nativity scene in the midst of the lights and the loud jingles and the sugar highs and the lists of WANT’s.

We have life.

We have each other.

We have  a king who offers us peace when we surrender to Him.

For just a moment today….

Let’s breathe.

-Alyssa