Sometimes we have to fight to keep our holidays from being stressful, and to create a peaceful, sweet setting. But making the holidays truly sweet is possible… and here are a few more tips!

For part 1 of this series on making the holidays truly sweet, see episode 26 of Everyday Welcome Podcast!)

When I was growing up, holidays had their share of traditions. My southern grandma made ham and roast beef and seven-layer pea salad and desserts galore, and the plentiful table was often offset by stress of bearing burdens alone. My grandpa’s garbanzo bean soup was famous in our family, and it represented a season of kindness and nourishing even when there had been years of disconnection and hurt. Another grandma created lavish dishes and there was lace and crystal, and there was also ache and hardship mixed in. I think for all of us, the sweetness of the holidays is often offset by challenging family dynamics, the stress of keeping up traditions, and the balance of work and rest that often weighs heavy on the work side.

Still, I’m convinced that the God who ordained feasts and celebrations wants us to seek and find Him, to share His goodness, with others during our holidays. I’m convinced that we can create rhythms that celebrate, make memories, and invite others into the Kingdom life, with less stress and more joy! So here’s part two of some ideas we can all use this season to celebrate the holidays with a Kingdom mindset – how to make your holidays truly sweet and avoid stress as a Christian family.

How to make your holidays truly sweet and avoid stress as a Christian family

Nourish yourself.

We really do need to care for these limited bodies so that we can serve from a place of peace and joy. Here are a few things you can do during the weeks and days leading up to your holiday celebrations (I’m reminding myself of them as I share!).

Go to bed. It’s tempting to stay up late getting ready for all that is on our to-do lists, especially at the holidays. But the hours before 11pm are said to be most beneficial for getting good rest. Try creating a nighttime rhythm and thanking God for providing us with sleep to replenish our bodies. Then take advantage of that gift and go to sleep! 🙂
Get up a bit earlier. Spending time with God before the noise of the day kicks in can help set us up to serve from a place of peace. Turn on a low lamp, make a hot drink, and enjoy the quiet before the day gets rolling and responsibilities kick in. Even if it’s chilly outside, go for a walk. Stretching our legs and getting under a big sky is a great way to wake up before cooking and eating!
Drink water and eat something. My friend Gi has helped me learn that it’s good for our bodies when we eat a balanced meal of protein, carbs and fat within a half hour of waking. And while it’s tempting to “save room for dinner,” or to skip a meal to get to our to-do list, we are better able to be calm, focused and kind when we’ve had something nourishing to eat to start the day.
Save time to get ready. I tend to rush through preparation for hosting and leave myself too little time to spruce myself up before guests arrive. But when we put time into our schedule to quiet our hearts, get ourselves ready and breathe, we are much better able to serve with JOY! Try to set aside more time than you think you need before festivities begin – actually put it on your timeline/to-do list! Do your hair and makeup, pray for a heart to love like Jesus, and feel good about yourself so you can get out of the way and serve well.
Get your face in the Word. Resist the urge to skip quiet time with God in order to dive into your task list. Instead, take time to sit with Him, even if it’s only to read a few verses, and remember what matters most in any holiday or celebration. God is GOOD, He loves His people, and He calls us to share His goodness with those He brings into our lives, our homes, and to sit at our tables!

Be an invite-er.

If you have one extra chair in your home, you can invite someone to join you for your holiday celebrating. Take time individually or as a family to pray over who to invite and when to invite them.

You can also be creative in how you invite. For the last few years, we’ve opened up our table for neighbors and friends to come Thanksgiving evening for dessert and games. This gives us a way to include a broader circle but keep a bit of intimacy (and maybe even a little more calm) in the actual meal preparations. But opening up our Thanksgiving dinner has also been one of the sweetest memory-making parts of our year. The year our Florida friends joined us with their three little ones brought hip-hop during dinner prep, a view of our surroundings through young, energetic and excited eyes, and a sweet joy we’d been missing without littles around!

And despite what etiquette books might say, I say it’s good to invite yourself if you’ll be alone! Offer to bring a side or a favorite dessert and ask someone close to you if you can pitch in. (But CHURCH – don’t let someone HAVE to invite themselves! Let’s look and see who needs us to just open the door, pull up a chair, and welcome them to our table!)

Say YES to help!

Don’t be tempted to think you have to do all the work yourself.

Some of my hardest family holiday memories are from times when the host (too many times, myself in this mindset!) felt the weight of all the planning, preparing, and serving. It may start from a heart to love, but often results in frustration or resentment. Instead, with just a simple sentence, we can invite our family and even our guests to share in the joy of serving.

If someone offers to bring a dish, say yes. It’s ok to specify what you’d like or need, but it’s also ok to let your guest offer something that’s fun or easy for them. Welcome guests to help with cleanup, even if it’s just for a little bit. Leave a task or two for last-minute help to do so that everyone can really enjoy a meal together.

Want to learn more? Listen to Making the Holidays Truly Sweet, episode 28, for some practical tips on hosting and meal prep to make your holiday celebrations even more sweet.

(This post is revised from a post I wrote called “How to Have the Best Thanksgiving Ever,” and it could also be called, “How to Have the Best Christmas Ever!”)

RESOURCES:

Do you want to grow in JOY and your relationship with Jesus this holiday season? Join the Advent study, Longing and Light, for free!

Holiday Hosting: Creating a Beautiful Cheese Platter

Hospitality Beyond the Holidays

My Everyday Welcome Cozy Holidays E-Book

Tips for Transitioning Holiday Decor

RELATED EPISODES:

What does Modesty Have to do With Hospitality? (episode 8)

Reconciliation and Hope (episode 24)

Ask Good Questions: Invite Genuine Community (episode 20)

When We Feel Afraid But God is Bigger (episode 7)

Be Kingdom Minded (episode 9)