How Do I Find Joy at Christmastime?

Michelle Nott shares 6 strategies for finding joy at Christmas time despite the stress of seasonal preparations.

My life is filled with noise. Not just any type of noise, but the type that accompanies the chaos of living in a house filled with six young children. Sometimes those noises are happy squeals and pounding of feet running around and playing. Other times those noises are screams and cries of anger, frustration, sadness, and hurt. Noise comes with having a big family. 

One of the common themes I’ve read about when attempting to study our faith is that we can find God in the silence. I am going to be honest and say that I have always felt a little bit like an outcast at that statement. How am I supposed to find God if I am constantly surrounded by noise? Am I just excluded from this experience? 

A lot of the time I just shake off that feeling of exclusion and simply reassure myself that I can meet God where I’m at, including in a noisy house. But I still feel the longing of wanting to experience God in the silence myself. 

Recently this made me think of the song "Silent Night." I wish I could go back in time and experience that night in person and just feel the presence of God in the silence on the first Christmas. I can only imagine the peace that Mary felt as she held her son and stared into His face. 

Finding silence 

Christmas can be a very hectic time for most people. Our busy lives get even busier as we try to fit in Christmas shopping and concerts into our regular routines. I know I am overwhelmed by it all. 

It gets even worse when I go onto social media and see all the advertisements and posts on what traditions to do or stay away from, or what toys to buy or not buy for Christmas. I can feel my brain working overtime trying to keep up. I can also feel it getting overstimulated by all the noise. 

Something I have realized is that maybe the silence I have been seeking is not necessarily in the form of pure silence (though that would be nice every now and then), but rather silence from all the extra unnecessary noise I get in my head from social media and the pressure I have put on myself to get everything done on my never-ending holiday to-do list. 

Christmas used to be a magical time for me when I was little. My siblings and I would have the best time making countdowns until Christmas, and helping my parents decorate our house or participate in our usual holiday activities. I look forward to it every year. As I have gotten older, that magical joyful feeling has disappeared and is replaced with stress. 

How do I get that joyful feeling back again? 

These ideas have worked for me in the past when I have been overwhelmed: 

1.      Lower expectations depending on the current situation. 

2.      Do what is best for your family, and not whatever is trending right now (this can include staying off social media to keep your peace). 

3.      Write down one thing that brought you joy at the very end of the day. 

4.      See the joy on our kids’ faces as they experience this season. 

5.      Take a moment for yourself, whether it is stepping outside to escape a noisy house, go for a walk or get in a workout, or even just focusing on breathing for a few minutes. 

6.      Saying a prayer. 

The other night, I got to experience a moment of peace as I was saying bedtime prayers with my kids. I was holding my youngest while the others were gathered around me playing with him while saying their prayers, and I just became overwhelmed with a feeling of peace and truly feeling God’s presence with me. It was beautiful, and what I imagine those present at the birth of our Savior must have experienced that night. 

I wish everyone a peaceful and merry Christmas! 

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Copyright 2024 Michelle Nott
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