Luke 2:19 – But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.

Gratitude Day 919

It’s the last weekend before Christmas. And I pray that you are enjoying these days just before Christmas. Because I think it’s so important to savor them. Every. Single. One.

Whether you have a lot to get done or not much at all, it doesn’t matter. Savor these days. They only come once a year. And rather than rushing through these days, I think it’s more important to drink them in slowly. Whatever doesn’t get done? It’s okay. Christmas will still come. The baby will still arrive. And no, his accommodations weren’t very great either.

How can we savor these days before Christmas? Here are 10 ideas.

Watch this story about Nora, South Dakota, Population 2.
I think it will touch your heart.

Visit someone. Or have a real phone call with someone you can’t visit.
One day this week, Hubby Rick and I planned a hole day of visiting people. Ones we say we are going to visit? We crossed them all of. Friends. Relatives. Former neighbors. People I used to work with. Armed with cookie trays and a desire to enjoy each visit, it was a great day. We often think we visit someone for their benefit. Truth? It’s the other way around.

Don’t have an opportunity to spend a whole day visiting? Take an hour. Someone too far away. Pick up the phone. Just let them know you are thinking of them.

Listen to your favorite Christmas carols.
However you prefer, hit “play” and listen. All. Day. Long.
In case you don’t have a playlist, use one of mine! A couple years, I created playlists of some of my favorite Christmas carols. Click on the links below, turn up your speakers. Enjoy. It’s that simple.

From 2022:

From 2021:

Watch a Favorite Christmas Movie
Last week, I shared mine, which isn’t really a Christmas movie. But I love “The Sound of Music” this time of the year. I’m planning Hubby Rick and I will watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” in these next few days. A way to savor them.

Read the Christmas Story
Turn to Luke 2 and read it. If you have a little more time, read chapters 1 and 2 from Luke’s gospel. To catch the magi part of the story, turn to Matthew 2. Read it aloud. With someone special to you. It’s so different when the words are shared aloud. Slowly.

Make Your Christmas Eve Worship Plans
Plan them in advance, not at the last minute. Invite someone to go with you and your family. Watch the lighted candle during “Silent Night” and let your heart and mind feel the miracle that happened in Bethlehem so long ago.

Visit Bethlehem Virtually
A couple weeks ago, our youngest granddaughter and I were talking about Bethlehem while in the car. She asked if I knew that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Yes, I aware of this. Then, I shared with her that I have actually visited Bethlehem.

“You have?” she said.
Yes, I have.
“Let’s go there! Right now!”
Well, sweetie, we can’t. It’s a plane ride away.
“I’ve ridden in a plane. We can go there.”
It’s a really long plane ride. It would take too long.
“But can’t we go there?”
No, sweetie, we can’t.

But we can take a little visit to Bethlehem, if only virtually. Right here.

Sit with a cup of hot chocolate in front of the tree
I love to do this. Just sit. Look at the lights. No television. Maybe not even music. Just sit and look at the lights. And know that I’ve found Jesus this Christmas.

I love this verse in Luke’s version of the Christmas story in where we are told that Mary treasured all of the memories and kept them close in her heart.

Friends – let’s do this. Treasure the memories. Meditate on them. Remember them on the hard days. Let them inspire you for the next 365 days.

No matter what you do or don’t have to do in these next few days, please take a minute. Savor these days. There can be lots of chaos this time of the year. This is why it’s so important that we savor a few minutes that are special for us. Let them inspire us. Sustain us. Remind us just why we celebrate this time of the year.

For the opportunity to savor moments this week, I am very grateful.
Blessings –
Dianne
Holy God – Thank you for these days leading up to Christmas. May I prioritize savoring special moments; ones between You and me. Amen.

Looking for a bit of daily inspiration? Check out my daily affirmation posts on Facebook (Dianne Deaton Vielhuber and Simple Words of Faith) or on Instagram (diannedeatonvielhuber.)

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