As the holidays quickly approach, many moms, me included, feel an approaching sense of anticipation and joy coupled with feelings of stress, anxiety, and even loneliness.
As the calendar and social media feed fill up with events and experiences we need to have, it is easy to become preoccupied with our desires for our family during the season. Whether that’s buying the perfect gift, planning the most perfect party, or keeping up with the pressure to create a flawless Christmas morning.
And all of this during a time as believers when we celebrate the greatest gift – the most selfless act- throughout history. We know this to be true, but how do we couple the noise of consumerism with the spirit of Christ’s birth? That our Savior came to earth to lay his life down for us when we deserved it the least.
It’s going to take intention and daily focus to help our families look outward instead of inward this time of year. With prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can help lead our families to be others-focused this season.
1. Sacrificially open your home to others.
Hospitality is an outward expression of the inward transformation that takes place when we accept God’s love. One of the best ways to model to our kids the importance of turning our focus away from ourselves is to open our home to others – even when it’s most inconvenient. Our kids are always watching us and our attitude towards everything we have. That includes our home and how we choose to use it. The beauty of Christian hospitality is opening our hearts and our homes to those who might be hard to love, lonely, or unwanted (Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9).
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:13
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 4:9 (NIV)
When we do this – whether it’s hosting a holiday meal or a new family over for coffee – our kids must practice making others feel joy by sharing what we have.
2. Reach out to those who may be struggling.
The holidays can be difficult for people dealing with loss, financial hardship, or personal struggles. This includes our kids and their friends. Take time each day to ask our kids who might be sick in their class. Spend time at the dinner table praying for others in your community or family who are battling something. When holiday shopping, pick out a treat or a surprise for someone who could use encouragement and deliver it as a family.
3. Emphasize the joy of gift-giving.
As soon as the Amazon Prime catalog arrives in our house, the conversations swirl about Christmas wish lists, wishes, and wants for the holiday gift season. Gift-giving is a wonderful tradition and opportunity to remind ourselves of the greatest gift during Christmas. As much fun as it is to receive gifts, the root of biblical love is to give without expectation of return and receive tremendous blessing and joy in the process. We have an opportunity this season for our kids to receive the joy of giving to others – whether it’s writing a wish list of gifts for their siblings, thinking about a special gift to give to a neighbor, and experiencing the blessing together when we turn our focus away from us and to the needs of others.
4. Anchor yourself in the hope of advent through prayer.
Prayer is an anchor—among the craziness of shopping, cooking, and keeping up with the traditions – to reconnect with God and realign our hearts with His hope and peace. Yet, amid the holiday hustle and bustle, it’s easy for prayer to get pushed aside. If we keep prayer and Advent reflected as a fun and fulfilling part of our family tradition, vs. something that interrupts it, we set ourselves up for peace and joy. A few tools we recommend to keep our family Christ-focused during this season are A Merry and Bright Adventure and the Treehouse Schoolhouse Advent collection.
A daily prayer for our family this season might be:
“Lord Jesus, as I prepare for Your coming, fill my heart with hope and peace. Help me to reflect on Your love and to share that love with others during this season of waiting.”
By reflecting on who He is, what He has done, and what He is going to do on a daily basis, God can help miraculously move our hearts and our minds from self-focused to others-focused. Through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, he will guide us to demonstrate to our kids and those we love the most the beauty and joy of sacrificial living.
So this holiday season, let’s shift the focus from “What can I get?” to “What can I give?” and see how much richer the season becomes for everyone.
Below are other parenting resources about the gift of giving and fostering a generous heart from our MomQ website:
Embracing the Rhythms of Motherhood: Unwrapping the Gifts of Each Season
At MomQ we believe that motherhood is a calling from God. While it is both a privilege and an honor, it is by no means easy! Moms have a lot of questions/concerns and need caring support along their journey. Whether you are a brand new mom or a little more seasoned, MomQ is here to help you fulfill your God given role. Don’t see a group in your area? Contact us today about starting one in your community!
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