About the Author

Jennifer Dukes Lee is the author of several books, including Growing Slow. She and her husband live on the family farm, raising crops, pigs, and two humans. She’s a fan of dark chocolate, emojis, eighties music, bright lipstick, and Netflix binges. She wants to live life in such a way...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Oh Jennifer,
    I have to smile because my “Christmas pendulum” has swung to and fro over the years. I’ve been the weary Christmas over-achiever wrapping last minute gifts in my closet, to the bare bones it’s just going to be about Jesus at all costs gal. I wholehearted agree that we each need to find our own personal balance that allows us to open our hearts and receive the wonder of Christ at Christmas. Guilt has no place in Christmas and needs to be thrown out with the “shoulds”. I love the line, “If we carry guilt into Christmas, we’re forgetting that Christ came to release us from it.” Amen!! And each year, depending on our circumstances, our balance may shift and that’s ok. Thank you for a wonderfully encouraging post this morning!!
    Blessings,
    Bev

    • I’m so glad this encouraged you, Bev. I know some women who love to go “all out” for Christmas, and who assume that they’re doing it wrong because their mantle is festive and their houses are all lit up. But we know from Scripture that God created each of us with unique gifts and desires, and our celebrations are going to look different from our neighbors. I think the main thing is, that we keep Christ at the heart. If we did all the decorating and forget the reason for the season, it’s rather pointless. But if we stripped it all away, simply for the sake of “should”, we’re not really getting the point either. I’m praying that we can all find the balance — reflecting our unique desires while honoring the birth of our Savior.

  2. YES to this! A few weeks ago, I was feeling Christmas angst…trying to figure out the balance with grown kids is still hard. BUT, I decided to just lean in and do the “work of each day”, starting with time with God. I don’t have it all figured out, but I have peace and joy today….and it will hopefully still be there next week! 🙂

    • Karen, It sounds like you’ve found a great balance this season — starting each day in the right place: with God.

      Have a wonderful season celebrating our Savior’s Birth.

  3. Oh Oh… that swinging pendulum… when I was a young mom… living crazy to make too many memories for my kids… living the Christmas crazy… I started out just wanting to trim the excesses… and because back in my youth I had an all or nothing personality… I ended up hacking it to death… and in the process lost the art of celebration. But God is merciful… and Kids are very forgiving… and God is a great Redeemer. My married kids are getting a clean start… they are finding their own way with out dragging family traditions from their childhood into their family… and as a ever growing family we are creating new traditions as we go…

    I love how you, Ann and so many others are encouraging mom’s to live in freedom… especially at these holidays times… blessings to you Jennifer!!!

    • Hi Ro! It sounds like we’ve had similar pendulum swings.

      I rather surprised myself this Christmas. We just returned from Haiti, and Christmas prep was already in full swing among all our friends and family by the time we got back. So this weekend, I pulled out the Christmas decorations on Saturday afternoon, and piped some Christmas music through the house. I figured I’d only set out a few decorations, but lo and behold, I kept on going and going all afternoon long. I was enjoying making the house so festive, and it felt like a celebration — not a burden. That one word — PreApproved — sat on my mantle and reminded me as I decorated that I was free to stop at any time, but I was also free to continue. Around 6 p.m. on Saturday night, I sat in the glow of the Christmas tree, and felt a bit like Mary — treasuring things up in my heart, and downright grateful for a Savior who came to Earth.

  4. I love how you got us all pumped up to live this pre-approved Christmas and then you gave us clear, actionable steps and reminders of ways to do that! So much wisdom. This season is a celebration AND it’s about Jesus. My pendulum likes to swing, but it’s reminders like this that help it slow down and settle in the middle.

  5. Jennifer, I love your post! Yes, I’ve been there (Still get trapped there in my thoughts sometimes)–feeling like I’m not doing enough to make Christmas—Christmas. As I read your words, it got me thinking. How often have I “done” Christmas rather than just been there for Jesus’ party? I get so busy doing—lots of them those “should” you talked about—that I leave no time for just BEING with Jesus in my celebrating of Him.

    You’ve got me thinking….I love the idea of setting one guiding principle. I need to do that. And I loved what you shared, “Listen to the desires of your heart, and hear how they’re guiding you into a celebration that reflects your passions while honoring our Savior.”

    Thank you. I needed this post today.

    • Hi Jeanne!

      Oh … yes. I’ve been a Christmas do-er. God is saying to us, “I am Emmanuel, God with you. You don’t have to try so hard to make Christmas happen. I’m right here! Do you see?”

      I pray that your guiding principle guides you well this year, Jeanne.

  6. I love your No. 3! Last night our once-a-month couples Bible study/dinner group met at our place. I decided what would be the most fun would be to serve breakfast. I made my best friend’s Christmas morning breakfast casserole, and everyone brought fun sides, including champagne and orange juice for mimosas. It was such a fun evening, and when people were tearing off paper towels because I forgot to buy napkins and opening my fridge because I forgot to set out milk for the decaf, well, I was just glad they felt at home.

  7. This really spoke to me, Jennifer, because I recall a Christimas where we didnt’ *do* anything, and it felt like so much was missing. I think my Christmases are disappointing when I get caught up in losing my focus on Christ. There is really a part of me that wishes there were no gift-giving because it tends to make me focus on trappings and expectations. I understand completely how giving presents came from the idea of the Wise Men bringing gifts to the Christ child, and being generous with others is not a bad thing. But in our secular world we’ve morphed it into frenzy and Black Friday and frenetic bargain hunting. I would love Christmas totally separated from all of that. I’m just rambling and thinking aloud to myself here and not trying to impose these thoughts on anyone else by any means. Maybe I will be brave enough to do that next year–no gift-giving on Christmas itself….maybe Boxing Day like the British do, or maybe sharing gifts at Ephiphany, or maybe not at all and giving all the $ we would have spent on each other on those in need…….I don’t know. But I know that for me personally I would like to celebrate Christmas, focusing on Christ alone. One way I do that is through music. This is the one time of year (even more than Easter) when one can attend so many beautiful sacred Christmas concerts. I will do that this year in one in which I am singing next Sunday (all Bach, all Scripture in German), Handel’s Messiah (all Scripture in Englsih) on 12/23 at our symphony hall), and on Christmas Eve at church, where we will sing many carols by candlelight. I so love God’s gift of music, all glorifying Him, at Christmastime. I love your idea of a pre-approved Christmas. God is not requiring perfection of us in how we celebrate. He alone is perfection, and He gives us the gift of Himself, if we will only receive it. Sorry for such a rambling response, but you have me thinking about what would really be meaningful for me and my family. I can leave all those expectations behind.
    Love
    Lynn

    • My guiding principle has really helped me keep Christ-focused. This year’s guiding principle is built around loving my neighbor. That means my neighbors right here in Iowa, but also in Haiti. Many of our gifts were purchased from fair-trade organizations so we can support a sustainable economy in Haiti and other countries. But ultimately, it all comes down to the heart of the matter … the heart of each of us. If I’m not careful, I could even get caught up in fair-trade shopping! It really is all about Jesus. All.

      • Jennifer, I love your focus–Jesus–and how He guides you to give to your neighbors here and abroad. I love this idea. I have an annual theme to guide me (Biblical), and that’s what you are saying about your guiding principle (and Principal). Love this. Thank you for this idea.

  8. This post is good news of great joy, because you’re urging us to keep our eyes on the real “Good News of great joy for all people,” and we lose that in all the distractions. Thank you.

  9. Love, love, love. So much of this has been on my heart and you put it into words beautifully! Thanks for sharing that preapproved message in ways my heart needs to hear.

  10. I’ve struggled with the “weight” of Christmas this year. I want desperately to do the Christmas thing- decorating the house, baking Christmas goodies, watching movies, and listening to Christmas tunes. I love those things and I’m also stressed by them. I think the stress comes when I try to compare what I love with what everyone is doing.

    I love that you have written about being preapproved this Christmas. I need the reminder. ALL THE TIME.

  11. A beautifully written piece. I receive it boldly. My perspective regarding the season has shifted for the better. I have been struggling with symptoms stemming from anxious thoughts. I am thankful to God that i am in recovery. I am grateful for you for sharing your reflection. I am thankful for the tools i received today sent by God to strengthen me. Keep writing. l-s