Lavender Prayers: A Holiday Prayer for Anxiety, Peace & Togetherness
Everyone is running around trying to get last-minute things done.
Before we rush past ourselves, let’s pause. Let’s ground.
For my fellow anxiety clan
When you feel the overwhelm creeping in, the panic tapping your shoulder, try this:
Hide & Seek.
HIDE
Find a bathroom, a quiet room, even a corner.
Look around and choose one thing.
An ornament maybe.
What color is it?
Does it sparkle?
Now breathe in.
What do you smell?
Cinnamon? Coffee?
The Grinch? 
Move through your senses one by one.
When you get to touch, come back to you.
Feel the fabric of your clothes.
When did you buy that shirt?
Where were you then?
The goal isn’t escape.
It’s removing yourself from the front line long enough to steady your feet.
Then SEEK
What’s really making you anxious?
And CREATE
A simple visual list of what you can do, and what can wait.
And here’s the part we often forget:
The holiday is not about perfect décor.
Not the tree.
Not the food.
It’s about coming together after a year of bills, work, chaos, responsibility, pain, regrets, and tears.
About finally sitting down together.
Sharing a meal that took hours to prepare, meant to be enjoyed together.
The hugs that say,
“I missed you.”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
When was the last time you felt that?
If I’m honest, it’s been a while for me too.
Scripture reminds us:
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Romans 12:10
And also:
“God sets the lonely in families.”
Psalm 68:6
Merry Christmas 
Be safe.
Go with God.