The Christmas tree is up, the lights are lit and the stockings are hung on the mantle. The smell of fresh-baked cookies fills the house and the children are so excited you can feel it in the air.

I, however, feel like I am losing my mind. I have three more kinds of cookies to make, a few (well, quite a few) presents yet to wrap, and I can’t tell you the last time I sat down and had a relaxing moment when I wasn’t driving the van. With four kids, four Christmas programs and several class parties, I am having trouble keeping it all straight.

I thought Christmas was supposed to be a time of celebration, fun, family and memories sprinkled with some tradition. And don’t forget the Christmas songs in the background. The me living in this chaos can’t wait for the New Year, when things will calm down (I hope). But what about the real meaning of Christmas? The celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ?

My life lately has reminded of me a country song. The words to the chorus go like this, “I’m in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life’s no fun. All I really got to do is live and die. But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.”

That pretty much sums up how I am feeling lately. I try to squeeze one more thing into my day, and in the process make myself cranky and those around me miserable -- just ask my kids. One thing keeps popping into my mind as I shuffle through this chaotic time. It is something I need to use as a checkpoint for adding things into my schedule. “Does this matter eternally?”

Will the things I am doing have a positive impact on eternity? Will it even matter in eternity if I get three more types of cookies made before meeting with family and friends?

Another thing I have found myself guilty of is cutting down on the time I am spending with God, reading His Word and asking Him for guidance in my day. I know in my heart and mind that I need this quiet time with God, but I find myself putting it off as I attempt to solve the stress of the season in my own way. When will I ever learn?

As I was preparing to write this column, God laid a verse from Psalms on my heart. Psalm 19:14 says, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be pleasing in Your sight.” I know that through the Christmas season I failed at this. I know that instead of focusing on the birth of Jesus this Christmas, I found myself worried (maybe focused is the more appropriate term) on all of the other things Christmas has come to mean for people.

In 2010, I hope to turn my stress over to God and watch it melt away like the snow in the spring. God’s Word has the ability to strengthen, teach, comfort and heal. May all of us find more time to spend with God and His Word in 2010.

“Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Christmas and what it means for us -- the birth of our Savior, Jesus. I also thank You for Your Word, the Bible, and for what it can do in our lives. I pray that in 2010 I will grow closer to You as I spend time with You and in Your Word. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”