It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The holiday season can be truly magical. It can also be daunting and tiring if we’re honest. It can be easy as the mother of the family to feel overwhelmed and underappreciated. After all, we’re the ones who decorate the house, plan the meals, get the festive plates and matching napkins, and no one notices.
My church is currently going through the book of Ecclesiastes in the bible and while you would not typically think that Old Testament book to related to the holiday season, I am going to argue otherwise. Solomon talks a lot about life under the sun and how we will not find joy if we live for this world. Nothing we do matters, if we are doing it for this world. “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11). Wow, talk about feeling defeated. Nothing matters.
However, just a few verses later, he says, “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live, also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil- this is God’s gift to man” (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13). The only way to find joy and contentment in this life is to live in light of eternity, to live for Jesus.
So, while it can be easy to believe the lie of the devil telling you that you are not appreciated enough for what you do during the holidays (or any day for that matter momma), remember why you are doing what you are doing. You may take some time to think about that. Are you planning the parties because you want to impress your neighbors and friends? Or are you planning the parties because you want to fellowship and connect with those people? Are you decorating because you want your house to look better that Cindy Lou Who’s down the street? Or are you decorating because you kids love the lights? Are you spending a lot of money of the “perfect” gift to impress the recipient? Or are you focused on the gift God gave us in Jesus? The gift of salvation that is given freely through His grace and mercy.
Decorations, and parties and gifts are all fun and totally appropriate ways to celebrate the holiday season. My point is to remember why we are celebrating. Solomon uses Ecclesiastes to remind us where our focus should be. If you are living for this world, you will not feel appreciated, you will feel overwhelmed, you will feel undervalued and you will feel defeated. But, if you are living for Jesus, you will find so much joy in celebrating the holidays with people you love.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:16-17).
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