This is my absolute favorite time of year! I love the smells in the air, the lights, and decorations. I love holiday parties, hot cocoa, and yummy homemade goodies. I love extra time with family and friends - and I love that it gets a little bit colder (even in Florida!), which means I can wear my boots and jackets. While my husband loves this time of year for Jesus and my Christmas morning cinnamon rolls (which he discussed in last week’s Wednesday Wisdom), for me, Jesus and chocolate balls make this season most special! Christmas is not complete without chocolate balls. My favorite family tradition. The Little family makes them every year, and they are SO DELICIOUS. I have 2 for breakfast with milk (it’s just like a peanut butter and chocolate granola bar right?!) and 2 before bed every day, all season long. For those of you who don’t know, my husband is the chef of the family. I am a very good sous chef and love to help in the kitchen, but I cannot throw something together like he can. It drives me crazy! He can make something out of nothing, it is never the same, and his version of a recipe is in pinches, dashes, and handfuls. I, however, love to bake - it is a science with a recipe that you HAVE to follow. The ingredient amounts and order of the steps are essential for success. I am a scientist by training and love details – I’ll read a recipe over and over again before I start just to be sure (one of the reasons the chocolate balls always turn out perfectly). I pride myself on being detail-oriented and a great planner. Every step of every day is carefully crafted for the most efficient and most effective day possible. BUT this is also my biggest downfall. Particularly in this season, this fault comes to an ugly head if I let it. I admit I am absolutely 100% Martha! Any other Martha’s out there sympathize with me?! Jesus, don’t you see ALL the things I am doing while Mary is just hanging out and being LAZY!!!! Accomplishing nothing off the to-do list! If you are unfamiliar with the story of Mary & Martha, read it here. Jesus speaks to Martha in Luke 10:41-42 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” The NLT translation says Martha was “upset over all these details!” Can you imagine if Jesus stopped by for a visit?! My problem is the same as Martha’s. Too often, I get caught up in all the planning and preparation and never stop to be still and be present. Too often, I let small details and perfection interfere with what matters most - God and people - the only two things that will last forever. I can carefully plan and execute a recipe or a strategy beautifully - and still miss it all. Christmas is all about Jesus: a time we stop to celebrate the birth of our Savior. It is not about the parties and the presents and the jolly old man in a red suit. We HAVE to stop all the madness! For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NLT) Jesus came to earth not only to save us from our sin but to be our Prince of Peace! How many of us could use a little more peace in our lives during the craziness of the holiday season?  Our lives are too busy and too crowded to resemble anything close to peace. And even worse, we see busyness as a badge of honor. Kara, at The Journey Church, recently preached on this very subject and hit the nail on the head when she said, “If Satan can’t make you bad, he will make you busy doing things that don’t matter.” This is EXACTLY his tactic for keeping me distracted from what matters most and keeping me from fulfilling the plan God has for me. But Jesus says, Martha, Martha, you are worried about too much! Martha, only one thing is needed, Mary has discovered it and it will not be taken away from her. It’s all about Jesus. Stop. Slow down. Listen. Be still. Come to me. Focus on what matters most. It’s all about people and relationships, not things. Fix your eyes on me! Martha had become distracted by all the details and had taken her eyes off of Jesus. We truly are all just as busy as we choose to be. We are in complete control of where we fix our thoughts and what we say yes to. Jesus, help us to keep our eyes on you and away from all the distractions of this world and of the holidays. Help us all to be a little more “Mary” this season. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) 3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)