“Make Christmas simple again”
‘5 tips for a low stress holiday season”
“What matters to you this winter?
These are literal email taglines sitting in my inbox right now. I mean, who doesn’t want a simpler holiday season? 5 steps to get me there? Yes, please.
My concern with the phrase “simplify the holidays” isn’t necessarily in the advice any of these people are giving. After all, there is wisdom in fighting against the urge to buy more and more, filling our calendars to the brim with any and every activity, and making our homes places of anger and stress because we simply can’t “manage it all.”
But maybe (just maybe) we have become obsessed with this phrase “simple” as if it’s a fruit of the spirit.
Lately I’ve been spending some time meditating on 1 Peter 4.
The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.] Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor]. Whoever speaks [to the congregation], is to do so as one who speaks the oracles (utterances, the very words) of God. Whoever serves [the congregation] is to do so as one who serves by the strength which God [abundantly] supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified [honored and magnified] through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.
In this passage Peter instructs the people to live with a one-focused mentality, living in a way that reflects you know and believe the end of all things is “near.” It’s coming. It’s right around the corner. And because you know this, you live a life that is sound-minded, self- controlled, for the purpose of prayer. Your life becomes a prayer outpost for others around you. The more you understand that eternity is coming (whether by His return or your death) you work to love one another, overlooking unkindness and unselfishly seeking the best for others. You become more hospitable, not less. You look around and seek opportunities to use your gifts to bless others for their good and God’s glory.
But living a life that reflects this often becomes more complicated, not less. God doesn’t want you to do less so that you can have more of “you.” God wants you to live in a way that is more about others this holiday season.
There are things I wish were different around the tables I’ll be sitting at this season. There are situations I have been praying for that God has not answered in the ways I would have liked. Some things remain far messier and complicated. There are empty places that will never be filled again on this side of eternity. When we say things like, “Someday He will right all wrongs and make all things new again,” that actually means something. There are very real wrongs. There are very real broken things.
And truth be told it would be far easier for me to simply not lean in, engage, or pray.
You see, the potential problem with our obsession to simplify everything is that often we have simplified the people right out of it.
This holiday season I can promise you there will be opportunities not to give less, but to be more generous.
There will be opportunities not to shut down and retreat, but to show a genuine interest in the lives of others.
There will be opportunities to both show hospitality and to serve (there’s always dishes to be washed, bless someone else who is hosting this year!)
There will be endless ways to pray for others and hope for God’s good work in their lives.
Maybe you do need to hear the advice to “do less” this month.
Maybe you need to empty your calendar a little of all the “extra”.
Maybe you don’t need to watch all 20 Christmas movies or attend every event.
Here’s the thing the world misses. We “simplify” not so we can have more of “us”, but so that we can invest more in the lives of others.
Someone needs you to have the time to show up for them this holiday season.
Maybe it’s a single neighbor sitting home alone.
Maybe it’s someone who has recently gone through a death, divorce, or depression.
Maybe it’s a couple living states away from their loved ones who can’t travel.
Maybe it’s someone in your own literal family who has gone through a difficult year.
Peter doesn’t leave us with a list of tips to make our lives easier. Instead he gives us a picture of what a life lived in light of eternity looks like.
- Remember the end is coming
- Pray
- Love
- Show hospitality
- Contribute with your spiritual gifts
Not on my strength or yours, but on the strength that God supplies.
Let’s love well this month,
Emily
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