Am I the only one who gets stressed by the pressure to try to find a sense of calm and holiness in the mad dash and feels guilty that it's not-so-calming? The pressure to make it magical and holy? I'm not talking about Santa vs. Happy Birthday Jesus debates. I just mean, even by trying to make it quiet and intentional and fun, it's still gonna push my limits.
Because I am the same person in the month of December that I am all year long. But with extra responsibilities, obligations, travel, and money spent.
So unless I say no to every single solitary event, purchase, and memory-making opportunity, I'm going to feel a level of stress.
This is a personal revelation.
I can be proactive and budget for gifts and buy them throughout the year. Or run around like a crazy person like I have every other year. I can create traditions that embrace the incarnation and the whimsy of childhood memories. I can cook and clean and host.
And then, when that's done, I can be.
Be in the moment.
The moment a little girl clutches her dolls, a boy starts up his race track, and toddler rolls past on her scooter.
The moment my daughter lifts her lit candle during "Silent Night".
A second later, I'm plunged back into the ordinary.
But that's okay. That's Christmas. That's life.
Light piercing the darkness.
So, I didn't have the perfect Christmas. But this side of eternity, I had a good one. A real one, with frustrations and fun all mixed together.
I have 11 months to recover. Then I'll be ready to do it again.
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