Wishing you grace, peace this Christmas

Through all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I have to keep reminding myself to take work and life one step at a time. “Do one thing well, and then move on to the next,” I think.

From workforce shortages and winter storms to shipping delays and sick days, we are all dealing with a lot.

A colleague of mine missed a meeting a couple of weeks ago, and after learning that it was totally out of her control, I understood. “We all need a little grace and peace this holiday season, that’s for sure,” I replied to her.

We can’t possibly fit everything into our schedules as it is, and when something unforeseeable comes up, something else has to give.

I make priorities and stick to them. I put “can’t miss” events on my phone calendar and set three reminders, and yet I still manage to forget to pick up a prescription or finish that order for a customer.

Press deadlines still come, even if there is a blizzard on paper day.

The Christmas issue is our biggest of the year in both the Independent and Transcript, thanks to the generous support of local businesses, Letters to Santa submissions from elementary youth, and a plethora of holiday events that deserve coverage.

We have been short staffed for a while now, so that meant long hours and lots of phone calls and e-mails to put it all together this year. Everyone on staff could feel the pressure.

Then the storm hit Tuesday, and we shifted gears yet again. Some rural employees stayed in town with family, one worked in a different office for two days, and the rest of us braved the road conditions to get pages to press on time.

A quote from visionary artist, author and entrepreneur Vivian Greene comes to mind, as I think about how yet another week has not gone according to plan.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass . . . It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Here in good ole NoDak in December, that means dancing in the snow. Or even taking a moment to watch the snowflakes dance outside the window.

Readers, amidst it all, the beauty of the season is all around us, and we best soak up as much of it as we can.

This is where grace and peace come in.

The “grace” I’m referring to is defined as “the state of kindness and favor toward someone, often with a focus on a benefit given to the object.”

If we have the mindset that we’re all doing the best we can, recognizing that sometimes we fall short, a little grace goes a long way. I know I need to be more intentional about seeing the best in situations, and giving grace to not only others but also myself.

As for peace, build a life you don’t have to escape from, and you will find it, the experts say.

This holiday I’m focused on making my presence the present. As much as I stress about the planning and the preparation, I aim to put as much (or more) energy into relaxing and enjoying the festivities. I want to be fully present, because it’s those precious moments, and the memories they hold, that will remain with us for a lifetime.

It is in the joy on the faces of family members, through the message in the Christmas Eve service, and the time to crash on the couch after the last guest leaves, where I will find peace.

Readers, my wish for you is that you seek out whatever it is that brings you peace this holiday. And may you give others grace to do whatever brings them peace.

I will leave you with an excerpt from the famous poem, “Amazing Peace,” by Maya Angelou. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

“It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.

On this platform of peace, we can create a language

To translate ourselves to ourselves and to each other.

At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ

Into the great religions of the world.

We jubilate the precious advent of trust.

We shout with glorious tongues at the coming of hope.

All the earth’s tribes loosen their voices

To celebrate the promise of Peace.

We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Non-Believers,

Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves

And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation.

Peace, My Brother.

Peace, My Sister.

Peace, My Soul.”