What if we tuned out all this last minute urgency and just accepted that we're going to be hitting stores, along with all other normal people, on December 23rd and 24th? The holidays aren't a race: no one gets an extra toy or more chocolate in their stocking because they had their shopping or baking or decorating done early. And even if we do get things done ahead of time, we'll find another holiday task (or ten) to fill up our newly discovered "spare" time.

What if we turned getting ready for holidays into part of holidays? What if we stopped trying to finish everything earlier, better, and faster than everyone else, and enjoyed preparations? After all, That Day will still come, whether you've baked ten kinds of cookies, or one, or bought some from a bakery. It will still come, whether there are 1500 lights on your house, or a wreath on door. It will still come, whether you've got your shopping done by July 23rd, November 23rd, or December 23rd. And it will be just fine, no matter what.

And even if it doesn't turn out to be perfect, guess what? You get another crack at it next year.

So relax a bit. Spend time with friends and family. Give thanks for bounty around you.

And have a wonderful holiday season.

NOTE: You're welcome to use this article online in electronic newsletters and e-zines as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including "about author" info at end). If use of this article is desired in print, you must first contact Lynn Cutts at Lynn@ManageYourMuse.com.

Copyright 2004 Lynn Cutts

Think about it. He’s been asked, nae, sent, to save whole world. That’s not exactly a miniscule assignment. On top of that, He knows that in order to accomplish this, He will have to suffer and die—on a cross, beaten bloody, and humiliated. That’s not exactly most comforting thought in world.

And so, He had to ask God one more time if this plan was really necessary. Apparently answer was, “Yes, it’s necessary.” In my mind I can see Jesus say, “Well, okay then.” He stands up and walks forward into His future.

Here’s thing though, while we’re in “hard,” it’s tempting to give up. It’s tempting to say, “This isn’t worth it” and walk away from God’s ultimate dream for us. But if we do… if we walk away because it’s too hard… we will miss glorious resurrection day. We will miss that day on which God takes our dream, molds it into His vision and releases it to world in a burst of golden light.

Sure, it could be easier, but then triumph of our Easter Sunday wouldn’t be met with such rejoicing. And who knows, if we didn’t go through our Good Friday, Easter might never come at all.

Copyright Staci Stallings 2003