'Tis the Season

Twas the week before Christmas, and an army of writers across the world engaged in a private moment of sheer stress.

There’s presents to wrap, family to visit, obligations to fulfill, house cleaning, baking, decorating- and, worst of all, an unfulfilled writing quota. I don’t know about you, but personally, I can get extremely caught up in what has to be done. Sometimes it’s easy to prioritize things that aren’t a priority, and juggling it all can be difficult.

If writing is your stress relief and you enjoy those quiet moments of creating and typing, that’s awesome. Keep it up! But, as the holiday season draws closer and time becomes harder to grasp, there might be a sense of guilt for not writing, and we shift other things aside in order to finish that quota.

My dear writers, Christmas is a time for peace and a sense of holiness. It’s time to reflect on what our mighty God has done for us, and the incredible miracle of a virgin birth in a tucked-away stable. It’s time to visit family and friends, to sing songs off-key (or on key, if you’re nothing like me), set up beautiful decorations, and give to those who have been forgotten. It’s a time to be kind to others, and to be kind to ourselves. And if that means taking a breath and letting go of all that guilt for not fulfilling your writing quota, guess what?

That’s okay.

And hopefully, when Christmas passes and we finish celebrating New Years, we can tackle the task of writing with a clearer mind and a better sense of Who we’re writing for.

Yes, we write for the world around us, which is broken and desperately in need of wholesome literature.

Yes, we write for the friends who cheer us on and leave ten thousand comments of encouragement on messy Google Docs.

Yes, we write for ourselves, who need an outlet to express those thoughts and desires we need to share.

But more than all that, we write for the One who was born to save us from the darkness. The ultimate light, the greatest storyteller, and the humblest king.

We write for Christ.

So, if you’ve felt guilty about not writing but have a hundred other things on your plate, set down the notebook, laptop, or battered folder, and go spend time with family. Put up your grandmother’s special heirloom ornament. Or, better yet, visit your grandma. Hug your brother or sister. Make yourself a cup of hot chocolate. Read the Christmas story. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or toy drive. And thank God for this time of hope and giving, knowing that your story is being written by One who would do anything to see you walk into the light.

His light.

Merry Christmas, y’all

-Serena Stellington