3 Things You Need to Carry You Through the Holiday Season

In a perfect world what would your Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays look like to you?

Would you be surrounded by extended family or maybe just your immediate family?

Would you choose to go on an adventure with just friends?

Or would you choose a quiet low key option where you take in rest, and maybe spend some time serving the less fortunate?

Whatever you choose this holiday season there are 3 things you need to carry into every situation you encounter. Are you ready to be equipped? Wouldn't it be great if this season you walked away feeling completely full, both literally and figuratively? Here are the top 3 things that will allow for you to have the best time spent no matter who you are with or what you are doing!

Managed Expectations

Oftentimes we walk into our relationships ill-prepared. It's natural to think that everyone thinks the way we do, which can sometimes get us into situations where we are expecting things from both family and friends that they are not able to give.

Before you go to that next gathering be sure that you have managed your expectations. This looks like giving grace to loved ones (people can't read our minds.) It also looks like having a bit of extra patience (we are all doing the best we can!)

Most importantly - have compassion, and remember that family gatherings are not supposed to be torture. They are supposed to be fun! So, however you need to change your perspective so you can be a part of that fun, do it - you will be so glad you did!

Love

What would your time spent with family and friends look like if you always remembered to come from a place of love? We need to remember this holiday season that love is an action word. Is there one person at your holiday gathering that you typically have a hard time loving? We all have those feelings at some point or another, but this holiday season why not make an effort to show that person love?

Maybe you can prepare something for them or just make an effort to engage in conversation that you normally would not with them. If they happen to be the host of your holiday celebration, bring a small token of appreciation. Love always prevails and it always wins (even when we can't see it!)

Peace

Recently in my daily devotion time I read a definition of peace that just made me want to shout! I often find myself telling people to follow peace. But, what does that actually look like? Here is how Priscilla Shirer defines peace in her book Fervent:

Peace is the deep, inner, eternal stability the believer possesses by virtue of relationship with Jesus, a sense of balance that's not subject to external circumstance. It's also the quality that enables us to live harmoniously with others.

Our goal should always be to live harmoniously with others! It does not mean it will always be easy, but with prayer and seeking to understand rather than to be understood, you and I will be off to a great start!

Remember that, as you prepare for your gatherings and celebrations this time of year, you have the power to be the light. Embrace your family and friends, think of new games to play, create those traditions and most importantly - enjoy each other and have fun! We are all working to build our legacies, so choose to build one with love!

I would love to hear from you. How will you be spending your holidays this year? What are some of the traditions that you are looking forward to being a part of? How do you celebrate? Do you play games, carol, or bake together? Feel free to share in the comments below!

The holidays can sometimes be stressful or overwhelming - especially when encountering challenging relational dynamics. These 3 things will help you make it through! | EntriceRowe.com

Grace in a Season of Transition: Why You Need It.

 

Have you ever waited for a long time for something to happen that you just knew would propel you into a better position? Just recently I went from spending four years home full time with my bunch, to having my littlest two (3 year old twins) start preschool. This is a moment that I have been dreaming of since I found out I was having twins.  I was on the fence about adding a third child to our family which consisted of a 2 year old and 4 year old. But I thought okay, I'm going to bite the bullet and get on board with my husbands dream for expanding our family. As life would have it at that very first doctor's appointment we found out we were having twins. That's right we got the bogo baby! From that moment I had to get my mind right because I was getting ready to have 4 kids under the age of 5.

Fast forward a few years, and I now have a 8 year old, a 6 year old, and 3 year old twins (whew!) and it's now time for mama to be released from what I affectionately call baby jail! You know, the season where all they want is mommy... I am sending my babies off to school part time. I finally get time back, and will get to focus on the things that I would like to do. It is finally time to focus on my calling.

Well, what I had been dreaming of for all of those years has not been the reality of what I am walking out this season. But, not in a bad way! You see it is so important to make sure that we manage our expectations no matter what season of life we are in. In this new season of not having the little ones under foot all day, I now have time to get my house in order. I have more time to get laundry done and meal plan for the family. I've had to shift my perspective as well as my expectations, because for sure I originally thought I was going to have all this time to focus on my calling. However, the reality is I am walking in my calling for this season.

With new seasons come new lessons to learn. In my case better systems to create for my family so the majority of the work around our home does not solely fall on me. So in this season of transition I'm learning to take each day and see what God has in store. In His word He reminds us Phil 4:6-7, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." This is a word that I will be meditating on in this season. God knows the desires of my heart and He also knows how to get me to where I need to be. I've already learned in life that nothing is wasted and at each stage of the game there are things to be learned that prepare you for the next. Keeping all that in mind, I'm going to get my mind and heart in sync with God. I will be grateful for this time to get my house in order. The opportunity to pick my kids up from school and hear about their day which is a blessing. Learning how to get your “will” in line is so crucial to any successful transition. Once we’ve mastered this, our emotions will follow. When the next transition comes I will be ready how about you?

Are you in a season of transition? How are you handling your day to day? Do you have a scripture that you keep close to your heart to remind you of God's faithfulness? Feel free to share in the comments below!