It’s that time of year when holidays stack one on the other, activities multiply, and anxiety creeps in. How can we expect peace on earth when we can’t even muster it in our homes? Here are seven ways to help guard peace in your home.
- Create a budget and start shopping now. In addition to gifts, don’t forget to include items like postage, food, and decorations. By setting a budget, you avoid impulsive buys, pay with cash, and stay clear of debt. If the budget is still tight, consider drawing names in your family. Be creative!
- Look over your calendar. Which events and activities are flexible? Feel free to say no to an event this year. Think about which activities bring you joy and energy and which drain and zap your strength.
- Protect your quiet time. You might be tempted to ignore this time, but be ruthless in defending this space. The time you spend in God’s Word and with Him will benefit you and your family. Even with a brief devotional time, you’ll find you handle family disputes and relationships with grace and patience.
- Perform one activity that serves others. It doesn’t need to be a big event; it could be something small, like taking a meal to a neighbor or visiting an elderly couple from church. Acts of service shift our focus from ourselves to others, bringing joy and peace.
- Make your church family a priority. Meeting with like-minded people lifts your spirit and can sometimes lighten a burden that’s too heavy for one person to carry. As you share with others, this group will ask how you’re doing, love you, surround you, and pray for you.
- Turn off the electronics. Choose a day each week during these months to spend time outside, in face-to-face conversation, or in quiet activities like working on a puzzle, reading a book, or playing a board game. Make sure to include the kids (especially teenagers and college students) in choosing what day or time works best for everyone.
- Plan to attend a Christmas Eve service. Guard this time by scheduling the family gathering before or after the service. Many churches offer multiple services, allowing flexibility for families. If you can’t make church, hold your own service by reading the story of Jesus’ birth from the Bible (Luke 2:1-20), lighting candles, and singing Christmas hymns. Make sure your kids know this is a significant time for your family.
We can guard peace during the holiday season. It will require some preparation and planning, but in the end, your family will arrive at Christmas Day relaxed and remember the reason we celebrate—Jesus.
Sally Cressman is the author of “The Dance of Easter.” Sign up for her email list to receive “Conversation Starters for the Holidays.” She’d also love to connect on Instagram.
