Are you feeling it already?  Buy this, decorate that, serve here, don’t forget that…this season can be daunting.  So how do we stay in our lane this year and decide for ourselves what we will say yes to, and what we need to say no to.  

I confess when you come to this blog, sometimes I feel like you as the reader might feel like you should be doing everything I write about.  But no.  That is never my heart or intention.  I never want you to leave here feeling overwhelmed or less than. Instead I hope you feel inspired, encouraged, and empowered to live out your own unique purpose.  

So let’s clear our minds together, and start today by feeling freedom to say, no.  Here are some No’s I have been thinking about lately.

No, I do not have to buy our kids 5 gifts each…maybe this year 2 is plenty.  

No, I do not have to be at every school function for our kids…maybe choosing 1 is enough.  

No, I do not have to bake everything from scratch for the get togethers…maybe let Kroger do it.  

I have come to realize that when I say no, it frees up my yeses.  

I am saying Yes, to my kids getting 2 gifts this year (so that we don’t go into debt this Christmas).

I am saying Yes, to attending 1 school function (so that I will not be overwhelmed and stretched to thin).

I am saying Yes, to letting Kroger bake that pie (so that I can spend more time with people, and less time in the kitchen).  

All this striving is exhausting.  Exhaustion leads to one irritated mama, and that is exactly what I want to avoid this holiday season. I don’t want to live in a state of exhaustion and irritation, but of joy and peace!

Have you heard of King Solomon in the Bible? He is the King who when asked by God what he would like to receive, he asked for wisdom. Not riches or power…wisdom. And God gave it to him along with riches and power. So, this king had everything under the sun. But at the end of his life, he called it all vanity and striving after the wind.

I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.  

Ecclesiastes 1:14

Perhaps the more famous quote from King Solomon is that “there is a season for everything.”

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Might I add: A time to say yes, and a time to say no.

If we are running ourselves ragged striving for perfection in many things, do you know what that results in?  Us chasing after the wind…it is like us trying to catch and hold the wind in our hands.  It simply can’t be done and is foolish to even try.  Because I love visualizations, I threw flour all over my kitchen and tried to catch some in my hands. It made a huge mess, but the photos were worth it…i think. haha! I love how the Bible can put life in perspective.  It is always saying such profound things that my mind never naturally thinks itself.  But when we stop, pause, and take time to fill our souls with words that bring life…it’s amazing how it simultaneously frees your soul as well.  

Where do you need to lay down striving in your life?  Where have you set unrealistic expectations for yourself that leave you feeling defeated and restless?  For me, I need to be mindful of what I’m saying yes to this season.  And I need to give myself permission to say No even when I want to say yes.  When we create margin in our lives, it makes our yeses more enjoyable.  

After all if I am going to strive for anything this holiday season…it will be for a joyful and peaceful heart!