By Amber Weigand- Buckley
So I was scrolling through social media the other day—
Which, let’s be honest, is probably my first mistake—and I saw yet another post about “living your best life.” Perfect lighting, perfect coffee, perfect Christmas everything. And I’m sitting there in my yoga pants, barefaced, thinking, “Okay, but WHAT does that even mean when your brain is actively working against you during the most wonderful time of the year?”
Because here’s the thing about those Pinterest quotes, those “Choose Joy This Christmas” signs—when you’re at your lowest, they just bounce off you. They’re flat.
One-dimensional words that don’t mean anything when you’re suffocating inside your own head while everyone else is singing carols.
But here’s what I’ve learned:
The problem isn’t the words themselves. The problem is when we treat them like they’re enough.
There’s a massive difference between a sign that says “cozy Christmas” and actually FEELING a warm blanket wrapped around you by the fire. Between a quote about Christmas peace and actually watching Christmas lights twinkle. Between “joy to the world” in cute script and feeling winter sunshine on your face.
If you never get outside of your head, you will always see life in ONE DIMENSION. And Christmas deserves more than that.
As you read this issue of Leading Hearts, I want to challenge you to refocus on the joy of the season—not by trying harder to feel the right feelings, but by getting out of your head long enough to EXPERIENCE the three-dimensional beauty that’s already here.
Christmas wasn’t meant to be a one-dimensional card.
The Incarnation itself was God stepping OUT of the heavenly dimension and INTO our three-dimensional world—Emmanuel, God WITH us in tangible, touchable, experienceable flesh. So this holiday season, when the Pinterest ideals and the anxiety threatens to trap you in your own mind, remember: there’s a galaxy of stars out there.
Twinkling lights. Warm fires. People who love you. Small moments of wonder. Your best Christmas—your best life—might just be outside your own head. May you feel HIs love wrapping your Christmas and the year to come.
