There's so much to keep track of this Christmas season, it's easy to forget a few things! Anxiety can build as we try to remember all the gifts and menus and places to be, but perhaps the thing we should really fear, is forgetting is what is real.

I'm guessing there are at least 47 things on your mind right now, Mom.

And if you're anything like me, you may very well forget about things number 48, 49, and 50.

We have our limits! (Wouldn't you like to shout that out to the world a couple times today?!) We're going to blow it on a few things. Burnt cookies, a missed dentist appointment, overdue library books, an important Christmas card, a crockpot that never got plugged in...

It's okay. Really.

I'd love to step into your messy kitchen, laugh with you at the chaos and then reassure you that you don't have to do every single thing well right now. You're going to forget about a few things, you'll fail in a few areas, you'll compare yourself to pinterest or your best friend or your mom and you'll fall short. But guess what... the world will keep turning, and no permanent damage will be done.

You don't have to do it all!

There's just the one thing. The one thing I'm afraid I'll forget. The thing you might forget too, unless we remind each other, over and over again.

I'm afraid you and I will forget what's real.

I'm afraid our lists will be full of things to do. Gifts to buy. Food to make. Chores to be done. I'm afraid our next few weeks will wear us out on that which is seen. When what is unseen is what is real.

...We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. —2 Corinthians 4:18

The thing about life here on earth is that we work constantly in the "seen." We have to. It's our God-given assignment.

We feed our families, we deal with money, homes, cars, clothes, and right now with Christmas gifts and decorations. That's fine. We've got to be practical and deal with this stuff.

But our God calls us past what we see. These things are temporary. That's why I can assure you in all confidence that if your clothes, meals, and decor are not pinterest-worthy, it's no big deal.

But the ability to focus on true reality, to push past what the eye can see to what is eternal is what makes all the difference.

What does that look like for you? I'd love for you to share what you're focusing on this Christmas. The possibilities are endless... as varied as each of our personalities and our own families.

It could mean turning the tv, phones, and tablets off in order to direct your family's attention to the Scriptural account of our Savior's birth. Sharing the beauty of the gospel with your little ones.
It could mean sharing with your children (on an age-appropriate level) the truth about persecuted believers across the world, then spending a few minutes in prayer for our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ.
Maybe it means stepping away from your to-do list and snuggling with your husband or babies on the couch.
Or maybe it's visiting a friend or relative in the hospital or retirement home.
Perhaps it's spending time in prayer for our hurting, bleeding world. For the victims of terrorism. For the terrorists.
It could mean sending a missionary a care package. Financial support.

There's no right or wrong list. It's not a legalistic thing. All it's about is redirecting our attention to the things that last forever.

And what are they?