The holidays are upon us, and with them come a great deal of activity. Whether it is your family or the students you work with, we barely have time to digest our Thanksgiving leftovers before the first event of the season hits.
There are a lot of positives that the Christmas season brings. We have opportunities to talk about our faith more openly. There are opportunities to express love to our family, friends and neighbors. And, of course, the food is always great. However, the volume of activity can be exhausting, and that is especially the case if you have children of your own.
How do we navigate all of this? How do we manage the full calendar and not let our students, spouses or children feel neglected in the process? I can tell you that I have not always done this well. When I was serving as a church planter in Northwest Arkansas and had a full-time job in retail, it seemed that I did it wrong more often than I did it right. I am a few years further down the road now and these are a few things I have learned:
• There is no replacing you when it comes to your family, especially your children. While someone else can fulfill your duties as a minister, no one else can be a “Dad” to your kids. If you have to choose between one thing and another, make sure your wife and kids know that you choose them. Go to your kids’ programs when you can. Take the kids to see the lights. Sing silly Christmas songs with them.
• When you are with your wife and kids, be present. I know that sounds a bit cliché, but we can often attend an event and never actually be there. We may spend the time there, but we are constantly on our phones, answering emails and sending texts. I love photography, but there are times that I have to set down my camera so I can enjoy what is going on and not just record an event. The same is true with our wife and kids. Allow yourself to see and experience the moments through your children’s eyes.
• Wherever you are, be there. Is there a reason to repeat this? Yes. If we are not careful, we will attend our students’ events and never really enjoy seeing them participate in what they love. Music, drama and the arts can all be a blessing to you as you support your students. Again, don’t spend the time texting and emailing. Use the time to support your students and grow closer to their families.
• Remember what the season is all about. While the food, family, friends and fun of the holidays are great, we can’t forget that this season is all about Jesus. It is a great opportunity to speak Jesus into the lives of all around us. We can get into great spiritual conversations.
The season is only a month. During my bivocational days in retail and ministry, I often reminded myself that it was only six weeks. It might have felt longer than that, but it wasn’t. When the calendar weighs heavy on you, know that it is just a short time. Let that motivate you to make it through and remain present as things happen.
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