Between holiday baking, decorating the house, shopping for the perfect gifts, and hunting for the most picturesque tree, Christmas can be anything but peaceful for moms. Too often, the stress and busyness of the season make it difficult for them to find time to simply rest and dwell on the wonder of the Savior's birth.
In SIMPLY CHRISTMAS: A Busy Mom's Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays: A Devotional, author Tama Fortner invites fellow moms to slow down, take time for themselves, and savor the true meaning of Christmas.
Fortner’s 31 short yet beautifully written devotions offer moms an opportunity to indulge in a few minutes of calm each day as she takes them back to that long-ago first Christmas. With warmth and wit, she also shares tips for leaving perfectionism behind and becoming the “keeping-it-real mom” instead. Traditions can get a bit out of hand sometimes. Our lives change, families change, and kids grow older. What started as wonderful and memorable can, over time, morph into something that just doesn’t work anymore. So what do we do? This year, before the holiday season even begins, ask yourself (and your loved ones) a few simple questions:
- At the end of this Christmas season, what memories and experiences do I want to have collected for myself and my loved ones?
- What makes me smile? (And not in a selfish way! Because, as mamas, we all know the things that make us smile the most are the ones that put a smile on our loved ones’ faces.)
- And most importantly, what honors God and makes Him smile?
Filter your traditions, your calendar, and events through these simple questions, and you’ll be on your way to reclaiming the peace of this Christmas season.
Another practical tip for Christmas decorating starts at the end of the season. As you pack up your decorations, it’s tempting to rush through and get it done. But I’ve learned that if you take a little extra time (just the first year) to box them up and label them by room, next year’s decorating becomes so much easier. When the holidays roll around again, you can simply pull out one box at a time, minimizing the chaos. And if there are years you don’t feel like decorating a particular room—yes, I’m looking at you 2020—you simply leave that box unopened.
Simply Christmas is available at all the major retailers, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, and ChristianBook.com. For more information about Tama and Simply Christmas, along with links to purchase, visit www.tamafortner.com.