Ever notice how the holidays almost seem to speed up time? Celebrations add additional events and tasks to our day-to-day routines. During the hectic press of the holiday season, it it easy to lose sight of the “reason for the season.” This week as we transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I’m excited to share this guest post with you that encourages a mindful approach to holidays. Below, Brooke shares tips on how to use your senses to be more fully present during this busiest time of the year so you can be “all there” at the holiday table. ~Gwendolyn

Special Guest Post by Brooke Turbyfill

When you think about the holidays, you might conjure a choir singing a song or a placid scene painted on the front of a Christmas card. You might remember the warmth of a roaring fire.

Wait!

We are not living in a Hallmark movie. While the aforementioned description paints beauty and ease, our holiday season is often far from it.

There are lists to make, cookies to bake, presents to buy, parties to attend, errands to complete, and traffic to accompany all of it.

In a season that is known for its arrival of the world’s forever-Savior, it sure does conjure up a harried, hectic schedule for most of us. But when we open the Bible and read a little closer, we may notice — Jesus came into a season of hurry and rush. He came into a place where citizens were doing what we do at Christmas time: They were going back to where they were from.

Bethlehem, we read, was so packed that there wasn’t room for Mary and Joseph to stay indoors anywhere.

So as we enter this time of year, let’s remember that it doesn’t need to look perfect, serene, or without conflict and hardship. I think perfect and serene are the last two words I’d use to describe the stable where Jesus was born. And conflict? Hardship? It seems that the Father welcomed Jesus into those very struggles from Day One.

But how, then, do you cope when your Christmas season is not ideal?

Try using your five senses. Take some time each week to participate in what is good: Look, listen, touch, smell and taste.

“These five senses have the potential to remind us that God’s goodness is found in simple things.”

— Brooke

Going through our days can be an endless stream of “to do” lists if we don’t recognize the small joys God has placed in our path: a child who colored us a picture or a co-worker who paid us a compliment.

“The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are...” (Genesis 13:14).

When we stop to look around, as God instructed Abram in the land of Canaan, it means that we pay attention. When we look around and notice the smallest blessings, it helps us remember that God is good.

“Listen: I tell you a mystery…” (1 Corinthians 15:51)

It is so easy to listen to the loudest, most urgent sounds instead of listening to the smallest, the almost inaudible. Christmas music plays in every store, car horns are blaring, and children are squabbling. But if we listen for a quiet sound amidst the hubbub, we may just hear the mystery of Christ. I like to walk outside and turn off the playlist. I try to soak in the birds chirping, the sound of a branch breaking, or a trickling stream. Small sounds remind me that I am small in a great, big world created by a great, big God.

“They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him” (Mark 8:22).

If you read the entire passage (Mark 8:22-26), you’ll see that Jesus touched the blind man three times. He took him by the hand, and He touched his eyes twice as He was healing him. In our current culture, we can often disregard the value of touch. But in our rush culture, it’s such an important gift. Whether you touch the soft petals of a flower, pet your dog, or give a loved one a hug this season, experiencing this sensory gift is not to be overlooked.

“The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart…” (Gen. 8:21)

It could be a scented candle, the fresh smell of your Christmas tree, or apple crisp baking in the oven. If God Himself enjoyed a pleasing aroma, so can we.

Taste. In Proverbs 24:26, the writer compares the taste of honey to wisdom.

When we are rushing from place to place, it’s easy to simply eat food for fuel and miss the experience and the joy of taste. Or in a culture of special diets and shame around food, it can be hard for some to delight in the food that’s set before them. But may I suggest a view of food — and taste — that has nothing to do with fuel or shame?

Our ability to taste is an expression of God’s kindness. He provided a way for us to savor something sweet or linger over a long meal. Let’s partake and enjoy the food He provides.