Thriving Through the Holidays: 5 Days of Hope for the Military Wife This ChristmasSample

Finding Rest in the Hustle and Bustle

Rest during the Christmas season as a military wife?

Read that and reread it. It sounds pretty comical if we are all being honest.

Christmas for the military wife can be many things other than rest. It can be traveling a long way to make it home to family, missing our husbands who can't be with us for Christmas, sad kids with unmet expectations, and we can't forget a good ole' PCS to throw in during the holiday season.

Yet, in the midst of it all and the crazy that comes with being a military wife, I feel this deep yearning in my soul to take deep breaths and rest.

So much about Christmas makes me feel like I can breathe deeper. Each year, I look forward to the smell of sugar cookies with Hershey's Kisses melting in the center, the fireplace crackling, a Hallmark Christmas movie playing, and the tree decorated by my sweet little people in our home.

The smells alone can make me want to snuggle up on my couch with a cup of something warm as I breathe in the scent of sugar cookies and a fresh burning fireplace. So much of Christmas reminds me of home, and not necessarily the home I grew up in. It reminds me of Heaven. It reminds me of Eden—the original place God designed for us to live in perfect peace before the fall of man. Let's go to that place together, military wife.

True rest can only be found when we ground ourselves in the only One that can give us rest—Jesus. His rest is different. It entails dwelling with Him, contemplating His goodness, and delighting in His creation.

So, how do we dwell, military wife?

We sit with Him. We read His life-giving Word.

We allow Him to lead us to quiet waters and renew our souls.

We take naps. Long, deep naps.

We go on brisk walks and pay close attention to His creation.

We linger. We dwell.

We rest.

In that, we will find the real rest that Christmas can bring: the Hope of Jesus.

As Mary held that sweet baby boy that Christmas night, she lingered. She didn't rush. She sat still with Her Savior. He's inviting you to do the same, military wife.

So, no matter what you're facing this Christmas season—sit with your Savior. He will give you rest for your weary soul, no matter your circumstances.