Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:37-39

In the midst of the holiday rush, it's easy to get caught up in a checklist of tasks and a whirlwind of activity. We bake cookies, buy gifts, decorate, and attend parties, often feeling drained rather than joyful. We can confuse a successful Christmas with a hurried one, believing that the more we do, the better it will be. But when we strip away the tinsel and the pressure, the core of the Christmas message is beautifully simple and deeply relational.

When asked to name the most important commandment, Jesus didn’t give a complicated theological answer. He cut through all the laws and traditions to the heart of the matter: love. He distilled the entire law of God into two simple but demanding commands: love God completely, and love your neighbor as yourself. This is the foundation upon which everything else stands. The Christmas story is the most profound demonstration of this truth. God, in His infinite love, came to us in the form of a baby to bridge the gap between Himself and humanity. He showed us what it means to love our neighbor by becoming one.

Our Christmas season should not be defined by our to-do lists, but by our love for God and our love for others. This is the antidote to the "hurried" and stressed-out holiday. When we shift our focus from tasks to people, from things to relationships, we begin to embody the true meaning of Christmas. An unhurried Christmas is not about doing less, but about doing the right things—namely, loving God and loving our neighbor. This love is the quiet, intentional action that can transform our Christmas from a series of stressful events into a season of deep, meaningful connection.

Reach out to a neighbor or acquaintance with a small, unprompted act of kindness or a genuine word of encouragement.

Questions for Reflection

1. What does it look like for you to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind in the midst of a busy holiday season?

2. Thinking about the people in your life, is there a specific neighbor or acquaintance who comes to mind that could use an act of kindness today?

3. How does focusing on loving others, rather than on your to-do list, help you “unhurry” and find true peace this Christmas?