much needed advice today!

so this morning as i’m frantically trying to figure out how to accomplish all that is on my list and feeling like i’m running to stand still, i read this article that was sent to me. talk about PERFECT timing! just what i needed to hear today to put this craziness into perspective. maybe some of you might feel the same as me. hope this helps!

Are We Being Wise?
by Dean Hughes
November 29, 2006

Sit down for a sec. Take a breath.

Have you forgotten already?

Remember that conference talk? The one by Elder M. Russell Ballard? He told us to be wise. He told us to cut out the “needless frills.” Remember what you thought at the time? “He’s right. I’ve got to stop overdoing.”

We all made the same vow, didn’t we? And now it’s the season of peace and love, and what are we doing? Overdoing.

Here’s what he said:

“I would like to let you in on a little secret. Some of you have already learned it. If you haven’t, it’s time you knew. No matter what your family needs are or your responsibilities in the Church, there is not such a thing as “done.” There will always be more we can do. There is always another family matter that needs attention, another lesson to prepare, another interview to conduct, another meeting to attend. We just need to be wise in protecting our health and in following the counsel that President Hinckley has given often to just do the best we can.” (Ensign, November 2006, p. 19)

Wow! He actually said that. An apostle. And we believed him.

But now Christmas is coming and you’re getting yourself stressed, aren’t you?

One of my pet peeves is hearing everyone ask, “So, are you ready for Christmas yet?” The question makes Christmas sound like this enormous project—something to get “done.” Is that wise? Couldn’t we fuss a little less this year and enjoy Christmas more? Couldn’t we stop long enough, at least a time or two, to think what the season means?

When I was a little boy, my mom used to say, “They put up the Christmas decorations earlier every year.” I’ve heard people say pretty much the same thing my whole life. Let’s see, I’m over sixty now, so if “they” had actually moved up the Christmas hype every year, the decorations in the stores would all be up in July.

When we claim that “they” are “commercializing” Christmas, aren’t we really discovering something in ourselves, and then looking for someone else to blame?

I love Christmas shopping. I like decorations. I like dinners and parties and family gatherings—and all the rest. And I like the food—way too much. But we all must like that stuff or we wouldn’t make it happen again every year.

Still, somewhere in the middle of it all, let’s take a breath. Let’s hold the ones we love in our arms, maybe sit by the fire a few minutes. If we bake a little less, decorate a little less, skip a party or two, wouldn’t it be worth it?

Elder Ballard also said that some people: “. . . start believing that the programs they administer are more important than the people they serve. They complicate their service with needless frills and embellishments that occupy too much time, cost too much money, and sap too much energy.” (Ensign, November 2006, p. 18)

He was talking about the way we do our Church work, but could the same words describe the way we do Christmas?

Sit down for a minute. Relax. Play some Christmas music.

Ask yourself whether there aren’t some “embellishments” that could be dropped. Do we blame the stores and the advertising because we don’t want to admit what’s actually missing from Christmas?

And don’t we all know what that is?

I’m going to find some quiet time to listen to the “The Messiah” this year.

And I promise myself; I’m going to think more of Christ. Kathy and I visited the Holy Land this last year. I can still see those Galilean Hills in my mind. I’m going to think about that—the way I felt when I walked where he once walked. We all know what’s missing. It’s Christ we want to invite to our celebration.

And we can’t do it when we spend our whole time running.

So sit down for a sec.

Take a breath.

It’s the nicest time of the year.