In these last days of the year, the hustle and bustle and pressure of holiday cheer can put us on overdrive to produce the perfect holiday for our friends and family.  We want the perfectly decorated house, complete with aromatic candles blended with the smells of sweets baking in our ovens.  We want the perfect lighting, perfect music, and of course, the perfect food.  None of this can happen without our homes being clean, right?  We must wash our floors, vacuum the carpets, dust all our shelves and have those bathrooms shiny.  Our piles of junk get thrown in boxes under our beds so that we can put out decorations or trays of spiced nuts and chocolate.  Sound wonderful?  It sure does.  Whether you celebrate Hanukkah or Christmas, this message is for you.

Do you find that the above “ideals” for our home, whether they become a reality or remain a fantasy in our minds causes you extra stress?  The competition with magazines and store windows constantly lurks in our minds that we must “measure up” and provide the perfect, holiday card scene in our home in order to create a happy memory for our families.  After all, we just want our friends and family to remember us as giving them the best holiday they had, right?  We want our children to remember “holiday cheer” every time they look back on the holidays.

Some of you may be able to pull this off no problem.  IF that is the case, then congratulations, you should win a years free subscription to Martha Stewart magazine, and give us other girls some tips!!!  For the rest of us, there are moments that lack peace.  We may become “control freaks” because we want things to look a certain way.  Accidents happen to spoil our perfect abode and we then in turn explode.   Let’s look at what Proverbs 17:1 says-

Proverbs 17:1
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. 

Ultimately, we not only need to have our homes physically clean, but they need to remain spiritually clean as well.  Be aware of not inviting strife into the home. If you begin to shout or display other signs of distress, remember that it is an open porthole for the enemy to grab hold and take you for a ride.

Mark 7:15 says,
“Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’ 

When we begin to lose our cool, then we are displaying what’s really going on in our hearts.  Grab onto those motives in your heart and confess them to the L-rd.   If you find you are stressing out, get to a quiet place and pray.  Remember that your family will hold on to the memories of your attitudes and behavior over whether or not you had the perfect spread or nicely decorated home.  To be “magazine cover worthy” without peace isn’t worthy at all.  The Father’s presence will be missed and it is He that makes our holidays complete. 

Be thankful for your friends, family, and the homes and food you do have.  It’s ok if you don’t look like the department store window’s Christmas parlor scene.  It’s ok if your turkey doesn’t come out like Martha’s or that your pies are less than Betty Crocker approved.  What’s important is that the Father approves of you, and He sees your heart.  He knows your desires to make your home a haven for the holidays.  He knows you wish to create memories.  Focus on Him and not the tasks, and you will be more joyful, even in your work. 

“Father, we thank you that You are the reason for bringing families and friends together.  We thank You that You clean our homes and that You provide the atmosphere that is pleasing and peaceful.  We ask Father that You help us to give our hearts to You this holiday season and enable us to glorify You in all that we do.  Help us in our tasks, but also help us in the tasks that don’t get done.  May we not stress with an undue pressure that You didn’t put on us.  Thank You Father for helping us to see what’s really important.  Teach us how to teach others about Your perfect gift to us.  In Yeshua’s name we pray, Amen.”

Happy Holidays Ladies!
With Love, Jennifer