A worthwhile "Yes," this advent season

I'm sure I am not alone as I sit somewhere between the wonder of advent, with the anticipation of Christ's birth, a vital part of the ultimate rescue story – and also the haze of sales and baking and full calendars and overwhelming to-do lists.

And it had me thinking, what are the worthwhile "yesses" of this season, for me? I sat down and started typing and these are the ones that came most brightly to mind.

Yes – Let your dear friend finish scooping the cookie dough onto the baking tray, while you hold your fussy baby. Yes – hug and cry in the kitchen when you talk about the hard things in life and motherhood. Yes – take turns sneaking bits of cookie dough, just for the moms. Yes – let the kids run around and make merry noise. Yes – see firsthand the encouragement of prayer and friends who know and love Christ.

Yes – do take some deep breaths in the night air if you need to run something out to the garbage can by the street (and look up at those stars). Yes – make time for a few handmade things (baked goods, sewn or paper crafts, a knitted hat) for your nearest and dearest. Yes – make paper confetti with a star or heart paper punch and see your kids light up with joy.

Yes – Let your friend serve you lunch (loaded baked potato) as you sit on her couch and knit. Yes – make her a birthday cake (because everyone loves a homemade birthday cake, even if they don't love baking it). Yes – celebrate those friends born in December! Yes – linger for longer than planned, when the kids ask to go outside and play in the snow. Yes – see the beauty of the snow, the way it softens and blankets and insulates, the way it reflects light.

Yes – do grocery pickup (if it makes errands easier and impulse buys less tempting). Yes – tell yourself not everything can be done in one day and some (many) things can wait. Yes – make scrambled eggs for dinner, if you need to (or want to). Yes – let the laundry pile up for a day or two, in favor of time away from home, visiting family.

Yes – do a Christmas craft or two with your craft-loving kids. Maybe a nostalgic one for you, that's easy and soothing, like orange pomanders. Yes – instead of lamenting the shorter days, make note of how the setting suns sets the trees aglow, on your drive home. Yes – sprinkle little bits of Christmas cheer around the house (you don't need to buy new Christmas decor every year). Yes – do the advent readings with the family, on Sunday evenings, lighting an additional candle each week.

Yes – pause what you're doing and hug your husband when he gets home from work. Yes – delight in your children's joy over literally anything (snow! surprise cookies! remembering they have cozy slippers! The Snowman yoto card!) Yes – hold the baby for one of his naps, if you can. Yes – wear the red sweater, even if it's with pajama pants or sweatpants. Yes – have the winter quilt your mom made within reach. Yes – pause to notice how enraptured my two oldest children are by my father-in-law's Christmas tree. Yes – snuggle the kids, laying next to them as they doze off, sharing their last thoughts of the day with you. Yes – pray with them and talk all about Jesus and just how wonderful He is, what a source of hope He is.

And the perfectly curated home? Let it go. The top 10 "must-see" Christmas attractions? It's okay to stay home and have a cozy evening instead. The Christmas cards I haven't sent in three years (letting it go). That "amazing" sale on an item I truly don't need? Let it pass. I can't say "yes" to those things without compromise somewhere. Preaching to myself to choose a better "yes," for a version of me who can approach the unavoidable fullness of the season with resiliency and actual joy. The woman who can see the wonder and awe of Christmas and the true gift of Christ.

Because ultimately, that is the best "Yes," I've ever said: my "Yes" to a life in Christ.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
it is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!