Merry Christmas!

It’s Christmas — a time to pause, reflect, and remember what matters most. In this special holiday episode, I’m sharing a heartfelt message from my back porch to yours — one that celebrates the beauty of simplicity, the warmth of home, and the peace that comes from faith.

Amid the bustle of the season, let’s take a few moments to breathe, give thanks, and focus on the quiet joy that Christmas brings. Because the best parts of this season aren’t found in perfection — they’re found in presence, gratitude, and love.

Transcript

Episode 195 – Merry Christmas

There’s something special about this season — a stillness that settles over the world if you pause long enough to notice it. Maybe it’s in the early morning before the house wakes up, when the tree lights glow softly and the coffee is just beginning to brew. Or maybe it’s that quiet moment in the evening, after the day’s bustle fades and the only sound is the gentle crackle of a fire.

Christmas has a way of reminding us of what’s truly important — faith, family, love, and the quiet joy of simple moments. And that’s really what I wanted to talk with you about today. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated. Just a heart-to-heart from my back porch to yours — a moment to slow down and breathe in the beauty of this season.

We talk so often here about living a simple life, about finding peace in the ordinary and joy in the everyday. And there’s no better time to practice that than right now. Because the world around us can make Christmas feel like a race — a whirlwind of shopping, decorating, baking, wrapping, and running from one event to the next. But when we strip away all that noise, Christmas — at its heart — is a story of simplicity.

A stable. A young couple. A child.

No grand spectacle, no glittering lights. Just the quiet miracle of hope wrapped in swaddling cloths. And maybe that’s the gentle reminder we need this year — that holiness doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it whispers, in a manger or a candle’s flicker or the hush of a winter night.

As we move through these final days before Christmas, maybe it’s okay — even necessary — to set aside the rush. To turn down the volume of expectations, and turn our hearts toward peace. Maybe it’s okay to do a little less this year — fewer things, but more meaning. Fewer checklists, but more connection.

Because Christmas doesn’t need to be perfect to be beautiful. It just needs to be real.

Real laughter around the dinner table. Real hugs from loved ones. Real gratitude for the blessings that fill our lives — big and small. And maybe a few real tears, too, for those we miss or for the ways life has changed. It’s all part of the season.

When I think back on my favorite Christmas memories, they’re not the ones filled with fancy gifts or picture-perfect moments. They’re the ones where we sat around telling stories, where the kitchen smelled of cinnamon and cloves, and where love — in all its quiet forms — filled the room. That’s the kind of Christmas I wish for you this year.

A simple one.

One where you find joy in the little things — the sparkle in a child’s eyes, the beauty of candlelight during a church service, the sound of familiar carols sung just a little off-key. One where you let go of the pressure to make everything just so, and instead embrace the wonder of what already is.

This is the season of Emmanuel — God with us. That alone is reason enough to slow down, to breathe deep, and to be still. Because in all our doing, it’s easy to forget that He already did the most important thing. He came to be with us — in our homes, in our hearts, in our ordinary days.

And maybe that’s where the peace of Christmas begins — not in what we create, but in what we allow ourselves to receive.

So, take a moment for yourself, friend. Step outside and feel the cool air on your face. Sit by the tree with a cup of cocoa. Read the story of that holy night. Let your heart settle. Let the hush of this season remind you that simple is sacred.

If you’ve spent the month trying to simplify — to focus less on the noise and more on the meaning — I hope you see now that you’ve been walking in the right direction. You’ve been preparing not just a home, but a heart. One that makes room for gratitude. One that welcomes peace. One that remembers the joy of giving, not just gifts, but grace and kindness.

Maybe that looks like baking a few extra cookies for a neighbor. Or sending a card to someone who could use a little encouragement. Or just sitting down with your family and truly listening, letting the world slow down around you.

This time of year can be full — sometimes too full — but when we strip away the rush, we find what’s been there all along: love. Love in the laughter of friends, love in the warmth of home, love in the steady faithfulness of a Savior who came quietly, humbly, and for us all.

And so, as we celebrate this season together — from wherever we are — I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. Not a perfect one, but a peaceful one. Not a busy one, but a meaningful one. One filled with grace, gratitude, and those sweet, simple moments that remind you what matters most.

May your home be warm, your heart light, and your spirit at rest. May you find joy in giving, comfort in faith, and beauty in the little things. And may you feel, deep in your soul, the presence of the One whose birth we celebrate — the One who brings light to our darkness and peace to our hearts.

As the carols play and the lights twinkle, may you remember that the greatest gift of all is not found under a tree, but in the love that surrounds you — and the hope that was born that holy night.

So from my heart to yours - Thank you for being part of this journey, for taking time each week to slow down, reflect, and share in the beauty of simple living. I pray that your holiday is filled with blessings, laughter, and the quiet joy of knowing you are deeply loved.

And as you look toward the new year, may you carry the peace of this season with you — a peace that doesn’t fade when the decorations come down, but stays in your heart, steady and sure.

Merry Christmas, and may God bless you and keep you in the days to come.