Less Is More

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

—Psalm 62:5

In other months, I spend a lot of time cooking up fun things to do—parties, trips, shopping lists. But December, lovely month, does it all for me. It’s all my favorite things coming together—special occasions, traditions, gatherings centered around food and presents. A weekend in the city, a party tonight, a night out tomorrow. Birthday parties and Christmas parties and cookie exchanges and dinners.

But every December, I slip into believing that if one dinner party is good, two is better, that if one caramel is good, four is much better, that if staying up to read for an hour is good, then all night is even better.

I keep coming back to the old cliché less is more. I want to really notice each meal, each bite, each conversation, instead of shoving food in my mouth, running out the door, promising someone we’ll connect again soon. I have so many intentions and plans, but I lose the ability to listen, to stay, to connect. I’m embarrassed that I fall for it every time. Less is more is a great idea, but you wouldn’t know that from my calendar.