Our message at church yesterday was about the journey Mary and Joseph took to get to Bethlehem. Miles and miles covered, on and off the back of a donkey, what a great way to prepare for a baby. (NOT)
Preparing for a modern Christmas can seem just as daunting: the food, decorating, travel, and gifts- UGH. It's so easy to lose sight of why we do all these things. During this time, I tend to revert to a longing for simpler everything! Fewer decorations, one pot meals, and passing up the invitations in order to stay home and rest, brings me time to reflect on the birth of our Lord. Just like modern women tend to nest in the days before they deliver a baby, I start to prepare for the celebration of Christ's birth- every single year. It should be old news to me by now, but my old middle-aged heart still thrills like a youngster when I think about it. There seems to be a cord that pulls at most women's inner self when they think of childbirth and new babies. When the realization of the magnitude of this event reveals itself, the tug is even greater.
Our family Christmas is simple on purpose. We keep the gifts few and meaningful. There will be music and laughter and hugs and naps. We've found the less we spend on material things, the fuller our hearts get. So, how do we prepare for that?
Generally, we cook a large something (turkey, ham, brisket, etc...) and make smaller meals out of it all week. In between, we eat a lot of breakfast foods that are easy, quick, and can be made the night before. The kitchen is always a gathering hub, I mean, that IS where the coffee pot is. Plus, we don't have all our family at once so everything needs to be ready for whenever they show up.
Our critters get checked on the same as usual, but some days they get extra feed and water in case we get busy with family during normal feeding times.
Like I said, we keep the gifts to a minimum. Usually a good book, a new mug, or a gift card is enough for each of the older kids. The grandkids get "experience gifts" to avoid toy overload. I put some thought into each gift but I don't spend hours shopping for them.
Our indoor decorations include a tree with the trimmings, mistletoe in a doorway, candles in the windows, and a nativity set. DH sets up an outdoor lighted nativity. That's it! I enjoy the flickering lights in the evening and that's enough for me.
By keeping my material preparations simple, I have the time to (as the old hymn says) "prepare him room." That's how I keep my mind on the real meaning of Christmas.
If you are struggling with Christmas preparations or overwhelmed at the thought of everything you have to do or everywhere you have to go, you can go simple. Simply say, "NO." By deciding in advance to give up the extra, you can still have a great holiday. Reaching a goal gives a feeling of satisfaction, even if the goal is to do, have, and be LESS. Some people thrive on busy. If that is you, carry on. But if you're busy to meet society's expectation or because "everyone else does it that way," free yourself! When you give yourself permission to buck the norm, you secretly allow someone else to do the same.
