Peace in Busyness

Today, I will be taking a bit of a departure from my normal blog posts to discuss something that has been on my mind with Christmas coming up. In the last month, our work load has accelerated as we near the end of 2021, my family and I moved to a new home, and Christmas parties and get together’s have taken up much of our free time. Add to that the normal pressure to perform my duties well as a financial advisor, husband, father, friend, and man of God, and this time of year can get pretty stressful. It ought not to be this way, but it is the world that we live in. However, I often think, does it have to be this way? Must we busy ourselves to the point of physical and mental exhaustion? Is that really how we want to end the year? The end of a year and the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ should be a time of hope and reflection but oftentimes it is the exact opposite.

???????????????So what is the alternative? Cancel Christmas celebrations altogether and eschew holiday traditions in the name of pious seclusion? I should think not. In fact, I do not really want to use this blog post to offer any solutions at all! I have long since put aside any notions that anyone is genuinely interested in lifestyle advice from yours truly. I do however, wish to give you some encouragement as we head into the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season. Therefore, this week I will leave you with quotes from both scripture and those with much more wisdom than myself. I hope that you find in them as much peace and comfort as I do!

Luke 2: 8 – 14

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Martin Luther

“That there were shepherds, means that no one is to hear the Gospel for himself alone, but everyone is to tell it to others who are not acquainted with it. For he who believes for himself has enough and should endeavor to bring others to such faith and knowledge, so that one may be a shepherd of the other, to wait upon and lead him into the pasture of the Gospel in this world, during the nighttime of this earthly life.”

Charles Spurgeon

“Do you not feel, my brethren, that the gospel of God is peace to man? Where else can peace be found but in the message of Jesus?”

“May God give you peace with yourselves; may he give you good will towards all your friends, your enemies, and your neighbors; and may he give you grace to give glory to God in the highest.”

John 16:33

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas!