Christmas came so quickly this year. A friend texted me today and said, “Next year, I think I’ll enjoy the holidays a lot more. This year I was just so busy that they came to quickly.” I felt the same way. I was so concerned with decorations, and gift shopping. When Jon told me before we went to Chicago that we weren’t bringing our gifts for the family, it seemed silly to me. We were going to be with them, why shouldn’t we bring the gifts? It was, of course, so that we could do our Christmas time with them alone, when no one else was around. I think the fact that we didn’t open gifts…in the grand scheme of things, really doesn’t matter.
I spoke to a co-worker this morning at work and I asked him how his holiday went. He was telling me how usually they celebrate Christmas with all of their family at his house. This year, his family wanted to celebrate at a different house. He’s used to always reading Luke Chapter 2 at his house…but they didn’t do it this year, and it sounded like his Christmas celebration was lacking something.
That is one thing I can say for our Christmas celebration. In spite of all of the busy-ness, we really did celebrate the true meaning of Christmas this year. There were fewer gifts…and that was okay. We went to the amazing Christmas Eve service at Willow Creek…which really hit home for me, and reminded me once again of the awesome sacrifice that God made when He sent His son in human form to die for my sins. And we did read from the Christmas story in the bible, and we prayed. And we gathered around with family and rested, and relaxed, and took joy in rejoicing with each other.
I do believe next year I will enjoy the holidays more, and I would hope that I’ll be less crazy about all the materialistic parts of Christmas.
welcome, friend:) nice blog:)
I always love to read your thoughts. I am in the same boat. Every year I say that next year will be different. I will start earlier, be better organized, BAKE, so that we can do more “special” stuff and not be in such a rush… and I’ll say it again this year. But I’m beginning to realize that trying to get it all done so I can “slow down” later has just become another thing on my “to do” list. This year I didn’t try to make the season more special than normal. I just appreciated it for what it was “this year”. I only did what I could and didn’t worry about what I didn’t get done or what family event we didn’t get to attend. And so, what I did manage to do, I enjoyed more. I had some wonderful times with my daughter. Nothing special. Just spending time with her while she was out of school. Listening to her thoughts on life in general. Had some special moments with my son… watching him turn into a man of character right before my eyes. And had more time with my husband, just loafing around, being a couple. Which to an extent sounds like I did what I intended… I slowed down. But I did it without being better organized, or starting earlier. I did it by just doing what I could and leaving the rest. And we didn’t miss anything, except the stress.
I understand what you are saying, Bekah. I/we always travel over the Christmas holidays, in my case the trip covers two countries so I can visit both my in-laws in Pittsburgh and my family in Canada. It makes for some hectic days and lots of activities and by the time I’m back in Dayton, it sometimes feels as if the whole thing was a dream (at least I can say it doesn’t feel like a nightmare … I love my families!) However in the end, have I really enjoyed what Christmas is all about and appreciated what God did for me by sending his son to be that babe in the manger? To then go on to be subjected to ridicule, scorn and the most savage torture … for me? So I can have eternal life, love and peace!!! Wow, I’m laid so very low at the thought and yet raised so high in spirit that there is hope for an eternal future with my Father, Saviour, Brother, Best of Friends. :0)