“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV).

Have you been singing “peace on earth, good will to men” but your life is anything but? Christmas can feel like a race, making you wonder which will give out first—your wallet or your feet. It’s supposed to be the season of brotherly love, but it feels more like the season of “brotherly shove.”

For many of us, December days are jam packed with rushing to find a place to park or locating that last-minute gift in a busy store full of irritable sales folk. Are you experiencing a season of peace or a season of push? Here’s the test: is the day you really look forward to the day after Christmas?

Don’t miss Christmas this year. Don’t rush around decorating, buying, wrapping, cooking, and wishing for more hours in the day. You can choose a simpler Christmas. How? Make a to-do list and mark off anything that sidetracks you from the real meaning of Christmas. If it makes you cranky, it’s got to go. Stop worrying about impressing people, and give yourself time to pray, sing, sit, breathe, rest, laugh, ponder, and enjoy whatever makes Christmas about Christ.

Remember the first Christmas. The Prince of Peace was born in a place of utter poverty—probably a dirty cave far from home. There were no lights or fancy candles. There were no colorfully wrapped boxes of new baby clothes or the latest gadgets to make life easier. You see, the most precious gift you can receive can’t be ordered from an online website or found in your local mall. It’s an inner peace from the Prince of Peace—peace with God, peace with others, and peace with oneself. Therefore, I urge you this December: replace the push with peace to make this the best Christmas ever.