Ready or Not?
Here we go. The last quarter of the year is upon us. One of my children has already started fall break. Next week the other will follow. You know what this means, don't you? As women, we have two choices regarding the sprint to the end of 2013: we can let it happen to us or we can be proactive and make a plan. The week before Thanksgiving is usually when you see the glazed-over look in most women's eyes. How we handle the holidays has a direct impact on how everyone we love will experience the season. With only four Christmas seasons remaining until I send my first born off to college, I want to get it right. So here are 4 things we can do NOW to make this a sweet season of celebration and thanksgiving:
- Make a plan - Start with the basics. Map out the calendar and decide when you will be traveling, working, and home. Evaluate it now before you are in the heat of the moment and operating out of guilt, spontaneity, or exhaustion. In addition to where you will be spending time, also make a plan regarding gift giving. Waiting until December to determine what you are buying your children, friends, or family often puts us in a place of quick decisions we regret. Do a little at a time so you enjoy the preparations, get creative, and look for specials and sales. Determine a plan that works with the stage of life you are in and your budget.
- Communicate- A plan in isolation will usually offend, but if you are proactive and involve those you love then you can communicate both your heart and your options. Early planning is often helpful, especially if there are lots of moving pieces in your extended family. Lack of communication almost always causes people to assume the worst.
- Prepare for transitions- Without anticipating the changes to your schedule, you will end up frustrated and tired. The holidays are times women commonly drift away from their daily time with the Lord. How ironic as we are preparing for our Savior's birth that we forget to spend time with Him. Decide now what your new routine will need to look like when you have a full house so you don’t miss time with the Lord. God will honor that and it is usually what gives us His perspective to love those coming in and out of our homes.
- Say no to the unnecessary- Think back over previous years. What was meaningful? What was unnecessary? Do you need one more cookie exchange or Christmas outing? Will the world end if you don’t do Christmas cards this year? Did you slow down long enough with those you love to treasure the relationships and the season? If not, say no to the lesser priority to make time for what matters.
- Be flexible- A plan is great, but in the moment our attitude of flexibility will be what is important. Major on the majors and minor on the minors while remembering that it is our relationships… to God and to our loved ones that are most important.