When wonder at Christmastime becomes more about wondering how it will all get done, and if funds will come through in time.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
As Christmas approaches, many nonprofit and ministry leaders feel the familiar pressure rise. Calendars are full. Energy is thin. Year-end goals are still open. And there’s an unshakable sense that there’s still more to do.
This may all be true. But this year, I’ve been reminded of a deeper truth:
We’ve been preparing for this season all year.
Not only through planning, meetings, and appeals—but through relationships.
The Art of Lingering
At the heart of our missions, ministries, and journey with Jesus is relationship. And true, life-giving relationship takes time.
Ajith Fernando, a Christian writer who has shaped my thinking, writes in Reclaiming Friendship about the art of lingering—the discipline of staying present longer than is efficient, productive, or convenient.
That phrase has stayed with me.
When I look back on the year, the moments I regret most aren’t tasks I didn’t complete. They’re the conversations I didn’t linger in.
Ministry has a way of pulling us toward what is urgent. There is always another need, another meeting, another responsibility. And, if I’m being honest, I often turn away from lingering and toward the incessant demands because busyness feels more faithful.
But lingering is how people feel seen.
Lingering is how trust grows.
Lingering is how memories are formed.
The Cost—and the Discipline—of Lingering
I’ve learned that lingering usually costs us something.
Most often, it costs us sleep.
Lingering doesn’t fit neatly into productivity systems or leadership dashboards. It asks us to stay present when it would be easier to move on. And nonprofit leadership rarely rewards that posture.
At the same time, lingering only works when it is paired with faithfulness.
I’ve had to learn to do the work when I have the time—and to kill procrastination when I can. If something can be done today, I try to do it today so tomorrow isn’t constantly demanding what yesterday ignored. That discipline creates margin. And margin makes lingering possible.
I let tomorrow have its creative course—not because I’m careless, but because I’ve been faithful with what was in front of me.
Trusting the Leadership of the Holy Spirit
Even with discipline, lingering still requires trust.
I’ve had to trust the leadership of the Holy Spirit—to believe that He guides not just my plans, but my conversations. And to remember that the people placed in front of me are not interruptions; they’re invitations.
Lingering is where hearts are shared.
Lingering is where pain is relieved.
Lingering is where joy is stirred.
These are divine things.
Jesus modeled this kind of leadership constantly. He allowed Himself to be “distracted” long enough to change a life: the woman at a well. A blind man by the road. A grieving family interrupted by compassion.
None of those moments were efficient.
All of them were holy.
Christmas Is a Moment for Gratitude
Christmas generosity does not come from pressure. It grows from trust built over time.
This season is an invitation to pause and give thanks:
- For donors who gave faithfully this year
- For board members who carried responsibility with wisdom
- For staff who showed up day after day, often unseen
Gratitude is not a soft skill—it is leadership work. When people feel valued, trust deepens. And trust is the foundation of simple, healthy fundraising.
Give the Gift of Time
One of the most meaningful gifts we can offer this Christmas isn’t financial—it’s presence.
A handwritten note.
A phone call without an agenda.
A few extra minutes after a meeting.
Lingering communicates, You matter more than my schedule.
That kind of attention becomes the soil where deeper partnership and generosity can grow in the year ahead.
Remember Who You Serve
Christmas also invites us to look outward again.
Ask yourself: What gift do I hope the people we serve experience because of our work?
Is it safety?
Hope?
Stability?
Dignity?
A fresh start?
Let that vision guide your conversations—not just this month, but into the coming year.
Prepared, Not Behind
Christmas reminds us that God’s greatest gift came after a long season of quiet preparation. In the same way, your leadership this year—every intentional conversation, every moment you chose presence over productivity—has been preparing the way.
You are not behind.
You are being invited to linger.
And lingering may be the very place where you and those you serve run into the divine.
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” — 2 Corinthians 9:15