As I think about beginning a new Christmas season, one that feels extra hectic because of a late Thanksgiving. I want to be careful not to miss the profound gift of Christmas – God wrapped grace and forgiveness in the most precious package in history and gave it to us.

Like any mom, I’m tempted to get caught up in making magic for my kids. (Which isn’t entirely bad!) But, I know this month will fly by and I want to make sure this Christmas reflects what our family truly treasures – Jesus Christ.

So, I’ve got a few mottos this year to keep me on track:

Celebration over obligation.

I want this year to be marked by celebration instead of my self-inflicted obligations. I’m trying to hold my to-do list lighter and to carefully analyze why I am doing things. I’m asking myself: “Will this foster a heart of celebration, or is this simply an unnecessary obligation?”

Here are a few examples…

• Christmas cards. Jury’s out for us this year. I have a love-hate relationship!
• That 4^th holiday party invitation. Will “making an appearance” bring me and others joy? Or will politely declining be the gift of margin our family needs? (This year, we ended up saying “no” to one of our favorite holiday dinners, but with everything else going on next week I know it’s the right call.)
• Traditions that no longer fit our season. We’re not putting ornaments on the tree this year and I’m OK with it. It’s not a battle I’m willing to fight with our ball-loving 18-month-old.

It’s not about being selfish and only doing the fun things, it is about making decisions that promote meaningful celebration—both for myself and those around me.

How can you and your family pursue a meaningful celebration this Christmas? What obligations in your life need to be hushed to allow you to find the holy this season?

Presence over Presents.

The tradition of giving gifts at Christmas came from the magi. The wise men who dropped everything, traveled miles to present extravagant gifts to a toddler. These gifts weren’t intended for Jesus’ enjoyment or to make Mary’s life easier. They were symbolic gifts intended to be an act of worship to the Messiah.

Our culture has warped this tradition over the centuries. So much of Christmas is about consuming and buying, wishlists and retailers creating excuses for discounts. I’m not against gift-giving. Actually, it’s my favorite part of Christmas. (“Gifts” have always ranked #1 on my love language test.) Which is why I need to be extra careful here.

Some scholars say it took the magi two years to find Jesus. They didn’t just send gifts, they pursued His presence. My two applications for this motto are this:

• I don’t want to get too busy with Christmas that I neglect to spend time with Christ. (Sadly, when our days are super full – like in December – my early morning time with Jesus gets pushed.)
• I want to prioritize relationships over stuff. Because relationships (with God himself and the people He put in our lives) are the greatest gift we’ve been given anyway.

Adoration over Frustration.

Adoration is the practice of looking up. It’s the act of “inhaling His Word and exhaling praise,” as Sara Hagarty puts it. At its core, that’s what Christmas is – a day to remember His Word, breathe in His story, and breathe out praise.

Too often the breaths I exhale in this season are more like frustrated huffs. We’re late because of holiday traffic. (Ugh…) The kids think their expensive Christmas dresses are too itchy. (Huff) I forgot the assistant teacher on my gift list. (Shoot) I bet you know what I mean.

As we start this month, my prayer is that I would continually breathe in His goodness and grace (What a gift to be loved by such a selfless God!) And, breathe out gratitude, even in the busyness and the hustle and the magic-making pressure of being a mom in the holidays.

God is so good. We are so blessed. That’s what this season is about. So let’s praise Him even in the hurry and make space for Him in our celebrating.

What other mottos are you taking with you into this holiday season?