I have been reading a little book by author Jen Hatmaker titled The 7 Days of Christmas.  It is based on her longer book called 7.  Yes, just “7”.  I haven’t read the longer version.  I am being challenged enough by the short one.

The books both deal with excess in seven everyday areas:  kitchen, fashion, stuff, streaming, tossing, spending and stressing.  She addresses all these areas with suggestions for simplifying our lives and paying attention to the truly important issues-like our relationships with others and with God.

I have enjoyed the read and I have felt the need to implement some of her suggestions.  I wondered how it would have been to bring my children into the discussion, if the book had been around when they were young.  I continue to be amazed that there are such people in this world who can relay thoughts so effectively in the written word.  Truly God inspired.

I was taken by one extremely simple suggestion Hatmaker makes in the chapter on “Streaming.”  She proposes that we give the “Gift of Attention.” Give your “undivided attention to whomever God puts in front of you.” Turn off the TV, put down the tablet and turn on the DND on the mobile.

This following quote says it all, in a way that I cannot duplicate: “…be open to a heavenly surprise!  Who does Jesus want us to focus our generosity on today?  While fifteen minutes may not sound like a lot of time, it’s absolutely enough time to make someone feel seen, heard and valued.” The above quotes are taken from pages 104 and 105 of The 7 Days of Christmas).

And while we are at it, let’s spend another fifteen minutes with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who love us unconditionally.  Let their spirit renew us and enlighten us as we await the Savior’s birth in a few weeks. Happy Waiting!

Terri