Let's Talk About Christmas

As I begin planning my twenty-ninth Christmas, I think about some of the things I have learned through the years, and how these things help keep the focus on Christmas and family, rather than on the hectic, overstimulated, exhausting, commotion society and the media convince us we must embrace.

1. Christmas comes and goes whether we have completed every last thing on our To-Do list or not. I used to fret over getting every gift bought, wrapped, and delivered, every meal planned, every movie watched. Then I realized that Christmas is a season, not a day. If some gifts go unwrapped, they are delivered later and appreciated just as much, if not more. It isn't against the law to eat Christmas cookies and watch Elf on December 29 either. So if your list doesn't get completed, give yourself a break.

2. Christmas is about memories, not about stuff. I have collected Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer things for a long time because I love that little guy. Rudolph is my favorite Christmas movie of all time. Lately, when I look online or in catalogs, I see a lot of Grinch items. And they are cute! Grinch pajamas, bedding, party supplies, plates, and mugs scream out, "Buy me!!!". And I think how fun and cute they would be. But then I stop. And I realize we don't need them. We have wonderful things that the kids have come to love over the years. Things that they cherish and associate with home and Christmas. I remember all my mother's Christmas decorations. She put them out year after year. I can still see them in my heart. My mom didn't have the internet, Pinterest, and stores open twenty-four hours a day telling her she needed to buy the newest, trendiest decorations, or special Christmas bedding and matching family pajamas every year. And she did just fine.

3. Christmas has become synonymous with busy. We are expected to attend all the special concerts, sporting tournaments, parties, dinners, shopping events, and cookie exchanges, all on top of our regular daily lives and with the added tasks of shopping, wrapping, and baking. It is no wonder people are exhausted when Christmas Day finally arrives. And then the stores open immediately so we can return and exchange the gifts we just received, and of course, buy more. I say no. We say no. No to so many of these things that pull us away from our home and the special time that we have to celebrate here together. Instead, during these special nights, we eat dinner, read Christmas stories, watch Christmas movies, and eat special snacks. We light Christmas candles, sip Rudolph Hot Cocoa, and look at the twinkling lights on our tree as we listen to Christmas classics. This time of year passes so quickly. We don't want to spend it running from place to place, from event to event. There will be time for all that, perhaps during the long, cold days of January.

I know these thoughts may not be popular. I am alright with that. I am passionate about keeping our home and family-focused on the love and cozy and joy that this blessed time of year brings. How about you?

Sweet, right???

Have a lovely Monday, my friends.

Thanks for visiting.