Please Accept this RSVP as a Regret-There is just too much to do

As I scan through the blogs I read regularly, I find that there are so many holiday happenings that look like fun to do. There is a holiday open house, a tour of homes coming up, a homeschool secret sister gift exchange, free book giveaways and a wealth of carnivals and memes delving into the season of Christmas. I think I have about 13 things I'd love to add to my to-do list after driving through Bloggityville this evening not the least of which is the fact that I would love to put up some holiday lights on my header as I am envious of all the blogs that are gussied up in their holiday finest. In someways Bloggityville is beginning to reflect the busy-ness of the season that I am also encountering in the real world--there is always something going on and always something to do. It is ironic that things become louder, faster paced and more hectic in what is suppose to be the season of peace. I long to simplify and to create a peaceful holiday season for my family. But how do I do that? What make can make the season of peace peaceful? Matthew 6:33 answers it simply, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

I have to admit I haven't quite been doing that. As the stores pipe in Christmas music and the talk of Martha Stewart-like holiday planning to ensure a Norman Rockwell-esque holiday begins, I start to think about what will make the holiday perfect. I start to think how my mantle would look so much better with a new nativity set from Willow Tree; and that it really would be nice if I could come up a unique craft idea so that my Brownie troop could make gifts for their parents; and how do I drop Thomas enough hints about what I want for Christmas without emailing him a list outright; and that my gift of calendars for all the grandparents would be perfect if the my monthly scrapping layouts were updated to not just feature my children but also my nieces and nephew; and, and, and....

As I start to write all these things down on my growing to-do list, I feel panicked and overwhelmed. I just can't do all this stuff and live through this season with a peaceful heart. Why? Because I am quarreling within myself. My desires are a war within me. (James 4:1). I want to keep the Christ in Christmas but am busy laying up for myself treasures on earth. And as Matthew 6:21 says where my treasure is, there my heart is also--not to mention there my time is spent as well. So I am convicted that I need to come to a peace within myself first. I must decide where I want my priorities to be, where I want my heart to lie. Although the world might feel otherwise and a lot of my family doesn't understand, first and foremost, I want to be obedient to His will. I have had well meaning people tell me that by following Biblical standards I am just imposing upon myself another arbitrary set of rules. From the outside it may seem this way--I think this is just something you can't understand unless you have experienced the relief of surrender. When I give up controlling and micromanaging my life and decide to just walk with Him and spend time with Him, He leaves me "with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace He gives is a gift the world cannot give." John 14:27. There is relief in this; there is peace and this peace is the best gift I could get for Christmas or any other day of the year.

So please accept this as my RSVP of regrets only. Like the Christmas cookie exchanges that were cut last year, this year I won't be participating in any of the Holiday open houses or memes happening around Bloggityville. Here at the Cereal household we are going to try to keep are regular schedule and just add in one project or activity a day that helps the girls to celebrate the holiday in a meaningful way for we are not just living a purpose driven life-we also want purpose drive holidays :)

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This post has been submitted to the In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 Blog Carnival. The carnival will be this Thursday, December 6th and will be hosted by Kathie from Proverbs 31 Woman.