Being Present During the Holidays (Without Adding Another To-Do)

The holidays are full of sacred moments…and sometimes a lot of noise. It’s easy to show up physically while our hearts and attention are somewhere else entirely. Scripture reminds us that God often meets us in the ordinary: around tables, in conversations, and in shared moments with the people right in front of us.

I’m not about to add a heap of pressure or a list of things to add to your to-do’s, but I do have 3 simple ideas to help you be more present in the moments that matter the most. 

1. Release the Pressure to Do It “Right”

“My grace is sufficient for you.” —2 Corinthians 12:9

We can put a lot of pressure on ourselves during the holidays—to host well, say the right things, capture the moment, or feel all the right emotions, but grace reminds us we don’t have to perform to be present.

Before you head off to a Christmas party or your family gathering (even if it’s in your living room), take a few minutes to pray and focus your heart on the reason you’re celebrating. Take some deep breaths and set an intention for your time. Then, let go of the need to control the experience and trust God with each moment as it comes.

Jesus meets us in the messy, imperfect moments—the conversations that don’t go as planned, the interruptions, the loud kids, the awkward silences. Presence doesn’t require perfection; it simply requires availability.

2. Give Your Phone a “Job”

Instead of telling yourself “I shouldn’t be on my phone,” give it a specific role. It could be the photo-taker, the playlist controller, or the recipe-checker. When your phone has a job, it stops stealing your attention every five minutes. Set it down when its task is done and focus your attention on what’s going on all around you.

Of course, if you’re concerned your fingers will automatically click your email or Facebook, you could also make your phone the turned-off paperweight in the bedroom. Whatever works for you!

3. Create Small Holy Moments

“Be still, and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10

You don’t need a long devotional or a quiet room to experience God’s nearness. Sometimes holiness looks like a deep breath before the meal, a whispered prayer in the kitchen, or a moment of gratitude while laughter fills the room. You don’t have to be “on” the entire day. That can be exhausting.

Instead, pick one moment and decide ahead of time: I’m going to be fully here for this. Pause and silently thank God for the people around you—even the complicated ones. Stillness, even for a few seconds, helps re-anchor your heart.

Maybe it’s:

• Sitting at the table during dessert
  
  
• Listening to a grandparent tell a story you’ve heard 14 times (but love anyway)
  
  
• Watching the kids open presents
  
  
• A quiet conversation on the couch after the chaos
  
  

When you know the moment matters, it’s easier to protect it. 

Notice More

The holidays are an invitation, not to do more, but to notice more.

Notice the people God has placed around you. Notice the moments you can’t recreate. Notice His quiet faithfulness woven through it all.

Presence is one of the simplest ways we reflect the love of Christ, and one of the most meaningful gifts we can offer this season. Merry Christmas, friends. 

Love,
Wes & Kristy