Approximately 10 years ago, I realized just how crazy the month of December can get—from all of the expectations, “to do” lists and everything else that seemed to be building up around me, it was (very quickly!) getting to be over the top. I also realized that I was not alone. So many of my friends and colleagues were feeling the same way. Shopping, gifting, celebrating, servicing, donating, baking, decorating, planning, wrapping, churching, traveling, not to mention sick kids, sick adults, laundry, work, cleaning and all the forgotten day-to-day tasks that don’t get mentioned. Christmas and the holiday season started to become something I was chasing, trying to keep up with and more often than not, getting more and more tired from.
By the time the 26th of December rolled around, I was left wondering what happened? Where did it all go? The joy of the season was quite literally being sucked out of the “Season of Joy.”
So, I looked at what was important to me and my family and what wasn’t. I looked at what I enjoyed about the Season and what I didn’t. My husband and I cut back on the things or traditions that didn’t nourish our family unit and began to pace ourselves for the month of December. Furthermore, I not only realized how important my friends, family and colleagues to me, but also my spiritual practices and the holiness of the season. What could I do to support all of these things? That is when I came up with the 12 Days of Prayer—a time where I began dedicating a prayer each day to all my dear friends, family and others I met along the way.
Since then, I have extended the 12 Days of Prayer to whoever connects and finds comfort in it. This season, I will be posting my prayers on my blog, as well as other sources of media, but if you want them to arrive directly in your inbox, please sign up for my newsletter, the FireKeeper!
May the Joy of this Holy Season bring comfort to your Soul.
Blessings and Love,
Aimée
