If We Could Sit Down Together This Christmas…

If we could sit down together this Christmas, I think we’d both agree that the season seems to arrive faster every year. Before we know it, our calendars are full, our to-do lists are long, and our hearts feel pulled in a dozen directions. Yet deep down, we long for something simpler, something peaceful and real. Christmas was never meant to leave us breathless; it was meant to draw us close to Christ, to one another, and to the quiet joy of His presence.

When we take the time to slow down and remember what truly matters, Christ, ourselves, our families, our friends, and our church, everything else begins to fall into its right place. We begin to see that it’s not the decorations, the perfect gifts, or even the traditions that make Christmas beautiful. It’s the way Christ meets us in our ordinary lives and fills them with extraordinary love.

Christ First

Putting Christ first means more than celebrating His birth; it means inviting Him into the quiet spaces of our hearts and the simple rhythms of our days. When we begin each morning in His presence, even for a few moments, our hearts realign with His peace. As we go about our daily tasks, wrapping gifts, preparing meals, or visiting loved ones, we can whisper a small prayer: “Lord, let Your love be seen in me.”

Sometimes that’s all it takes to shift our hearts. Christ becomes visible in the patience we extend, in the kindness we show, and in the peace that steadies us when the world feels hurried. Every light we hang, every carol we sing, becomes a quiet reminder that the Light of the world has come not to overwhelm us with expectation, but to fill us with peace.

Caring for Ourselves: Body, Mind, and Spirit

Caring for ourselves is also part of keeping the heart of Christmas alive. It isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. We can’t pour from an empty cup, and even Jesus withdrew to quiet places to rest and pray. If He needed time alone with the Father, so do we.

For many of us, this season brings joy, but it can also bring sorrow. Old memories resurface. The ache of missing someone we love can grow sharper. The noise of the season can drown out the still, small voice that offers comfort. Let’s be honest, some years are harder than others. That’s why tending to our mental and emotional health matters so deeply.

Caring for our well-being might mean setting boundaries, saying gentle “no’s,” or allowing ourselves a quiet evening without guilt. It might look like taking a walk, journaling, listening to worship music, or talking with a trusted friend or counsellor. These things aren’t signs of weakness; they’re signs of wisdom. When we care for our minds and hearts, we make room for peace to enter.

We can also care for our bodies by slowing our pace, eating nourishing foods, and getting rest. And maybe most importantly, we can care for our souls by spending time with God, not rushing through a devotional, but sitting in silence long enough to feel His presence. A rested, peaceful heart reflects Christ far more beautifully than one that is hurried and weary.

Loving Others in Simple, Meaningful Ways

We don’t need to spend a lot of money to show love. The most meaningful gifts often cost nothing at all. Maybe your child lights up when you make their favourite meal, give them a back rub, or bake a dessert that feels like home. Imagine creating a small “love ticket” booklet for the year, complete with handwritten notes that they can use for those special moments. You could even mark the calendar for when those moments will happen, keeping them sacred and unhurried.

We can do the same for our spouse, parents, or friends. A warm back rub, a cozy movie night, a handwritten letter, or simply sitting together and listening can mean more than anything money could buy. These gestures speak a language deeper than the words they say, “You are seen. You are loved. You matter to me.”

There is no end to what we can give when love, not obligation, is our motivation. A quiet conversation, a shared laugh, a prayer whispered together, these are holy gifts when given with a full heart. Time, attention, and kindness are the currency of love.

Making Room for Peace

Keeping Christ first and caring for our well-being helps us make room for peace, real, lasting peace. That might mean turning off the noise for an evening: no screens, no rushing, just soft music, candlelight, or a quiet moment with Scripture. It might mean forgiving someone or releasing an old hurt that has lingered too long. Peace doesn’t just happen; it grows when we choose it.

Sometimes, mental and emotional health at Christmas doesn’t look like constant joy. Sometimes it looks like tears that bring healing, rest that restores, or honesty that opens a door to connection. When we let Christ meet us there in the realness of what we feel, He gently reminds us that we are never alone.

The Gift of Ourselves

If we could sit down together this Christmas, I’d remind both of us that the greatest gifts aren’t wrapped in ribbons but in presence. The way we show up for others with patience, warmth, and love means far more than anything we could buy. When we care for ourselves well, we have more to offer those around us. When we love intentionally, we reflect the heart of Christ Himself.

This Christmas, let’s keep what matters most at the center. Let’s put Christ first, care gently for our minds, bodies, and spirits, and give generously of our time and hearts. When we do, Christmas becomes less about the rush and more about the wonder that God came near, that love took on flesh, and that we are invited to reflect that love to a world longing for hope.

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (NLT)

A Christmas Prayer

Lord Jesus, if we could sit together with You this Christmas, we’d thank You for coming near, for bringing light to our darkness and peace to our busy hearts. Slow us down enough to see You, to hear You, and to rest in You. When we feel weary, renew our minds with Your peace. When our hearts are heavy, remind us that You came to bring comfort and light. Teach us to care for ourselves with grace and to love others with patience and joy. May our homes be filled with Your presence, our minds with Your calm, and our hearts with Your love. This Christmas, may the world see You in us. Amen.