‘Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the house,

not a creature was stirring,

not even a mouse…

The children were nestled

all snug in their beds,

while visions of sugar plums

danced in their heads…

The other day I found this classic Christmas poem dancing around in my head! No matter how I busied myself throughout the day, my mind kept repeating the words again. Finally, I found myself wondering, What’s a sugar plum anyway? After some thorough “research” on my laptop, I came to the conclusion that it’s basically candy.

I then reasoned if a child is dreaming of candy, that must signify that all is well in their world. They are at peace. They’re snuggled in their beds without a care. They can close their eyes and just dream of the candy they hope to find under the Christmas tree in the morning. Ahh…to be so relaxed and peaceful. When was the last time I had so little to think about that I could close my eyes and actually dream about candy?

My typical dreams have more to do with all the clatter in my life–bills to pay, a family or relationship issue to address, too many things on my calendar…. When I close my eyes for a long winter’s nap, more than likely, the last thing I will be dreaming about are sugar plums!

God may not have intended that we dream of candy when we climb into bed at the end of a long day, but I do believe He intended that we receive a restful night’s sleep. Ecclesiastes 5:3 tells us that, “…bad dreams come from too much worrying…” And in Proverbs 3:24 we read, “…your sleep is to be sweet.”

How often do I miss God’s intent for a sweet night’s sleep because I’m too preoccupied with the issues of my day? Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray.” The Message version goes on to say, “Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Too often, I know I deny Jesus the opportunity to displace my worries. How about you? Do you have a tendency to hold on to your worries and concerns about your life too? Matthew 6:27 says, no one can add a single hour to his life by worrying. And Jesus also promises us in Matthew that He will offer us rest when we are weary and burdened. (Matt 11:28)

Each Christmas season, our family hangs stockings by our fireplace mantel. Each stocking represents a member of our family. However, a few years ago we started a new tradition. We added one other stocking to the mantel–the Jesus stocking. This stocking represents what we will give to Jesus for His birthday. On a small, square piece of decorative paper or card stock, we each write down something we know we need to give to Jesus over the coming new year. Maybe its an:

Attitude that needs some adjustment

An issue that needs to be resolved

A stronger desire to be in His Word

Or (as in my case) the tendency to hold on to my worries.

Each Christmas we write the year in the corner of the card. The following year we read what we gave to Jesus from the year before. Were we successful? Did we make an improvement in that area of our life?

What I give to Jesus in the Jesus stocking goes beyond just muttering a prayer. It’s a physical, tangible exercise in coming to Jesus with my burdens. When I write it, when I keep it so I can revisit what I promised to give Him from the year before, I believe that exercise serves as accountability. Am I truly giving this to Jesus? And it also serves as a reminder of His promise–that He will give me rest.

Jesus longs for you and me to cast our anxiety on Him because He cares for us. (1Peter 5:7) He desires that we make our requests known to Him. (Php 4:6) This Christmas, will you give Jesus what He’s asking you to give Him?

To all of my fellow worriers, we may not ever experience visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads when we settle down for our long winter’s naps, but we can experience the vision of our Savior saying, “Come to Me all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)

May you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas season!

~Jeralyn