Time.

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Time.
We have God's word that there is a time for everything.
And there definitely is.
During the holidays, so many things - emotions, activities, obligations, traditions, etc. - are crammed into such a small amount of time.
I love the hustle and bustle, but love the calmness and peacefulness at the same time. It's weird and can be quite hard to manage at times. But we see the holidays come and go each year and I always wonder if I did too much or did too little. I'm still waiting for the year that I feel juuuust right.
I wonder if I'll ever feel that way?

If Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 had been written by me about the past month it would go something like this:

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to set up market and a time to break it down,
a time to hunt for and decorate the perfect tree and a time to grind the greens,
3 a time to shop for gifts and a time to return them because you're clearly not the "medium" your husband likes to think you are,
a time to wrap and tie beautiful bows and a time to unwrap them and put the beautiful paper and bows in the trash,

4 a time to bake 3 batches of biscottis and a time to selfishly hide the last one so no one else gets it,
a time to reunite with the best of friends and a time to say good-bye again,

5 a time to worry about the poor health of loved ones and a time to pray {lots} for their comfort and healing,
a time to spread some holiday cheer and a time to receive it with a grateful heart,

6 a time to dress in holiday duds and a time to stay in warm fuzzy PJs all day,
a time to over-indulge in dips made with cream cheese and a time to get on the scale and have a panic attack,

7 a time to design, print, and ship Christmas card orders and a time to proudly display each one you receive on the wall,
a time for Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and a time for Silent Night,

8 a time to remember that precious baby born in a stable many years ago and a time to remind yourself and children of the REAL reason for Christmas,
a time to reflect on the good and bad of the year that has passed and a time to toast a new one.

As we wind down the holiday season and begin a new year, I am praying that I will be blessed with the ability to better manage my time throughout the year and recognize the appropriate "time for everything".

Happy New Year!

Christmas recap to follow...stay tuned!