When is enough, enough? As the holidays are in full swing, it feels like there isn’t enough of us to go around. Getting up and putting one foot in front of another seems to take all our effort. There’s no end in sight, except on January 2nd, if we can hold on until then.
What if we said, enough is enough? We drop the “should’s” of the holiday “to do” lists and do what is enough? Let go of expectations and obligations. What if being present is enough? What if we start trusting God with where He wants us, where He wants our efforts? What if we decide to forgo the rushing, pushing and scarcity mindset? What if we take a step back, enjoy the moment and discover what God is teaching us?
For me, sometimes, the holidays brings out the worst in me, when it should be bringing out the best. Instead of loving on my family, I see them as not doing things right the first time or getting in the way of the mission of Christmas.
Yes, I just compared my Christmas to a military mission. As a full time working parent with three kids, in three different schools, life seems like it’s more about logistics than it is about love. It’s a cycle I want to stop this holiday season.
I want to let go of what I think my house should look like or the amount of presents the area under the tree can hold. What if I took a minimalist approach this holiday season?
Me, authentically being me, is enough.
No frills, no bells and whistles.
Not perfect, but present.
Yes, there are some traditions I want to keep alive, such as the moving train under our Christmas tree which puffs out fake smoke. I probably enjoy the train more than my kids anyway.
The tradition I want to let go of is the need to have a Christmas which matches the expectations of my social media accounts. After the failed french toast in the crockpot last Christmas morning from a recipe found on Pinterest, my kids would prefer french toast the old fashion way instead of creating a shortcut so we can get going about the day faster.
But what if I looked at cutting out the pressure I put on myself this holiday season and only took on what God wants me to do? Is that enough? What is the purpose of the holiday season anyway? Is it the gifts, the food, and the parties? Or is it pointing ourselves and others to the one true Gift of the season?
The birth of our Savior.
We are enough because He is enough.
Let me say that again, we are enough because He is enough.
There isn’t anything we can do to earn our salvation. Contrary to what many think, good works don’t get us into heaven. In Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLV) it says, “For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud.”
This holiday season, what are we working for? Are we working for the approval of others or are we working to point others to the gift of eternal salvation?
All God asks of us is to come to Him just as we are.
Nothing more, nothing less.
It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the past or the condition of our heart. To Him, we are enough because He fills in the blank spaces of our lives with His love and cleans the dirty corners of our heart with His forgiveness.
There’s nothing we can do that changes God’s love for us. Romans 8:38 (NIV) shows us this promise, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I challenge us this holiday season to say enough is enough while accepting the gift of eternal love.
Are you ready to say enough is enough? Share your thoughts in the comments below.