Well, the rush is on. While pumpkins are snuggling down in the pumpkin patch, the Christmas trees pace the floor to gained the prized position. In fact, Christmas decorations no longer get their own season as the familiar green and red colors now share shelf space with scarecrows, pumpkins, and an assortment of pilgrims and turkey platters.  No wonder time goes by so quickly these days. Marketing geniuses have us living three seasons in ONE! I find myself confused as to which holiday I’m supposed to be decorating for!

This marketing strategy is also partly to blame for the “stressed to the max” feeling we can get this time of year. What’s a busy mom/grandma to do? Here’s one thing we can do. Don’t get distracted by all the glitz and glamour of upcoming holidays and forget about what is really important. Take a minute to breathe and remember the words to an old hymn, “I need thee every hour.” Now, here’s where another distraction could happen. Don’t be distracted by the word “thee”, which is “old school” talk to us today. Rather take a minute to think about what that hymn really says. I’m going to modernize the words for us all so we can eliminate one distraction. Read with me:

I need You every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Yours can peace afford.
I need You, O I need You;
Every hour I need You;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to You.

We do need God every hour, don’t we? Sometimes we have him on our calendar book in terms of weekly or maybe daily, but in reality, we need Him hourly. In around 1968 hours, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we shouldn’t let one hour pass without celebrating His greatness, goodness, and love. As the “stressful” holiday season is fast approaching, you can quickly de-stress by closing your eyes and praising God. Truly, there is no voice like His, no comfort greater than He can give, no joy that can measure up to what He can supply. 

So, while you’re out and about looking at decorations to make your home either smell as comforting as an apple pie on chilly day or look as festive as the White House at Christmas, remember to stop, look and listen for God. He’s the decorator of all things beautiful and He never has to be put up in the attic.