The holiday season is officially upon us. This past week, my grandkids’ Christmas lists (all of them under the age of five) started rolling in. Arden wants balls, princess castles, and baby dolls. Linden is asking for walkie-talkies, books, a fairytale princess piggy bank, and Theo wants a record player, train sets, and a Little People farm set.
I’m already looking forward to having our entire family gather together, which includes 15 adults and 3 children. As I plan for the holidays, I’ve been reflecting on a familiar phrase I’ve often heard my adult kids say to each other – and if I’m being really honest, they’ve said it to me too.
“Hang up and hang out.” Translation: Put the phones down, people.
It always makes me smile, but it also makes me think. How easy it is for all of us to get pulled in by a thousand distractions… our screens, our schedules, the endless to-dos that make us feel productive but leave us emotionally unavailable.
In a season filled with giving, I’m learning – again – that the greatest present we can offer is our presence.
Present in the moment.
Present in our listening.
Present in our laughter.
Present in the memories we’re making, even in the messy, imperfect, unfiltered ones.
And this year, I’m also reminded to be present not just with the people we love, but everywhere we go. Slow down. Really see people. Talk to the cashier in the checkout line (notice their name tag and call them by name).
Offer a smile or a helping hand to the tired mom juggling three kids. Say hello to the person ringing the bell outside the store. Look up from your phone in the waiting room and notice the person sitting beside you. Small moments of presence can become big moments of grace.
This Christmas, I’m choosing to look people in the eyes, linger a little longer in conversations, and let my heart be fully where my feet are. Maybe you’re craving that kind of connection too.
So here’s our gentle December invitation:
Let’s give the people we love, and the world around us, the gift that won’t break, won’t be returned, and won’t go out of style – ourselves.
When the Holidays Feel Heavy
Even as I write about slowing down, noticing people, and being present, I’m fully aware that for many people, the holidays feel heavy. Sometimes the season when we’re “supposed” to feel joyful is the very season when our hearts ache the most.
Maybe you’re carrying grief that catches you off guard when you see a stocking. Maybe you’re exhausted by a year that drained you more than you expected.
Maybe you’re surrounded by people but still feel lonely. Maybe you’re praying for a miracle that hasn’t come. Maybe you’re trying to stay strong for everyone around you while quietly struggling yourself.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The truth is, the holidays tend to magnify whatever we’re already feeling. The joys feel brighter, but the sorrows feel sharper. Gratitude feels deeper, but so does longing.
Sweet memories feel comforting, but the ache of what’s missing can feel overwhelming. This tension is real, and it’s something God meets us in – not something we have to hide or apologize for.
You’re Allowed to Feel What You Feel
We hear the phrase “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” over and over, but for many people, this season is complicated.
If it doesn’t feel wonderful for you right now, that doesn’t make you ungrateful, lacking faith, or somehow failing the spirit of Christmas. It makes you human.
Your emotions matter to God. Your tears matter to Him. Your story, with all of its bruised places and brave places, matters deeply. Nothing you’re carrying is invisible to Him.
Presence Is a Gift When You’re Hurting Too
The presence I wrote about earlier – being present with others, with our families, and with the people we encounter every day – is important, but there is another kind of presence that becomes especially meaningful when our hearts are hurting: being present with God. Not in a perfect, polished way. Not in a way that requires the right words or the right mindset.
Sometimes the most honest and powerful prayer you can pray during the holidays is, “Lord, I’m here. And I need You to be here too.” And He always is. Even in the quiet. Even in the questions. Even in the disappointment or the loneliness. Even in the tears that come suddenly and for reasons you can’t quite explain.
And in those moments, when everything feels a little heavier than you expected, His nearness becomes the comfort you didn’t even know you were longing for. There’s something about simply sitting with Him – without performing, without pretending – that reminds you your heart is safe in His hands. You may not feel strong, but He is steady.
You may not know what to pray, but He understands the language of your sighs. And as you let yourself be still before Him, you begin to sense the kind of peace that doesn’t make complete sense but somehow holds you together. He is Emmanuel, God with us, and that promise becomes especially tender in seasons of pain.
Ways to Find Comfort and Peace When the Holidays Hurt
Create Space to Slow Down
Give yourself permission to release traditions, plans, or expectations that feel overwhelming. You don’t have to do everything. Not every cookie needs to be baked, not every event needs to be attended, and not every day has to be packed with activity. Leaving room for rest creates room for healing.
Recognize What You’re Carrying
Sometimes simply naming your emotions before God brings a surprising sense of relief. Let Him hear the truth of what’s in your heart. He isn’t intimidated or disappointed by honesty. He already knows, and He cares.
Notice the Small Graces
Look for the quiet moments that bring a sense of grounding. The warmth of your morning coffee, a soft blanket, a kind word, a smile from a stranger, or the way the light falls across your living room. These small graces don’t erase pain, but they gently remind you that beauty still exists in the midst of it.
Lean Into Safe People
Reach out to someone who can listen without trying to fix you. A text, a conversation, or a shared cup of coffee can be a lifeline. You were never meant to carry everything alone, and allowing someone to walk with you is an act of courage, not weakness.
Remember You’re Not Behind
Your Christmas doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. If your pace feels different this year, that’s okay. Slowness isn’t failure; it’s often a sign of healing. The season will not be less meaningful because you moved through it gently.
God Meets You in This Holiday Season – Right Where You Are
No matter what this month holds or what feels uncertain, painful, or unfinished, one truth remains steady: you are not walking through this season alone. God is close to you. He is kind, patient, faithful, and present in every fragile moment.
He sees what others may not notice. He understands what you can’t put into words. And He holds what feels too heavy for you to carry by yourself. Emmanuel is not just a Christmas word – it’s a reality. God with us. God with you.
A Blessing for Your Heart This Christmas
If this season feels heavy, may you feel held. If it feels rushed, may you find moments of rest. If it feels lonely, may you sense God’s nearness in unexpected ways. If it feels painful, may comfort arrive gently – through people, through Scripture, through small moments of grace.
And if your season feels mixed, both beautiful and hard at the same time, may you know there is room for all of it. There is room for you. And there is endless grace for every part of your story.
Merry Christmas, my friends. I’m grateful for you.
