Finding Hope, Courage, and Peace This Holiday Season

December often feels like a whirlwind. Between finishing work projects, shopping for the perfect gifts, making your home festive and welcoming, and trying to get everything else done—phew! It can get so busy that we lose perspective on the true meaning of Christmas and the Holidays. I know this firsthand because I’ve personally bought, returned, exchanged, re-purchased, and rewrapped my family’s gifts so many times that I’ve forgotten what’s inside the wrapping paper! Maybe I’m not alone.

Yet, in the midst of all this busyness, the invitation to find hope, courage, and peace this Christmas whispers to us. It calls us to slow down and remember that first, humble Christmas night. There were no fancy celebrations, yet a King was born. No special decorations, yet the stars lit up the night sky. No elaborate dinner menu or gifts, yet the Gift was perfect. Just a quiet, silent night in a stable.

The Prince of Peace entered the world with simplicity, vulnerability, and grace—a moment so profound that shepherds and wise men alike were drawn to Him.

This Christmas, remember: you don’t need everything to be Pinterest-perfect to feel like you’ve done enough. You are already enough. In fact, some of the best moments of this season might be the simplest ones—having friends over, sharing a meal, or celebrating the season together. What a gift!

The best gifts don’t need wrapping paper. They’re the irreplaceable people in our lives—those we love and who love us back. They’re the time we share together, the family gatherings that can never be replicated, and the courage we had to embrace new opportunities this year. They’re the blessings we didn’t expect and the peace that comes from knowing we are so much more than our accomplishments and regrets.

If the stress feels overwhelming tomorrow, take a moment to pause. You’ve done this before and survived it! But seriously—pause, pray, breathe, or meditate, and let gratitude fill your heart. Gratitude, I’ve learned, is the grown-up antidote to stress and anxiety. It’s a much better choice!

When the Christmas lights fade after the New Year and the decorations are packed away, may we still carry the light of hope into 2025. Never underestimate how much your light can impact someone else. Each of us carries a light within, and when we shine it for others, it does something extraordinary: it brings hope, peace, and calm. It helps people feel seen, cared for, and loved—two of our most basic human needs.

Imagine if we could hold onto that light, not just during the holidays, but all year long. What kind of transformation could that spark? What kind of ripple effect could it create in the lives we touch?

As we step into 2025, let us hold tight to that light of hope, courage, and peace. Let it guide us through challenges, inspire us to keep growing, and connect us more deeply with those around us.

I wish you a Merry Christmas, a joyful holiday season, and a purposeful 2025!

Maria A. Mansfield

Author, Women’s Life and Purpose Coach, and Speaker

Owner Coaching Extraordinary Women, LLC