I'm not going to talk about personality types.
I'm not going to mention we all had eleven months to get to this point, because I think the holiday crazies aren't about planning. Life interrupts the best of plans and when you're self-employed like we are, we have to keep that reality in the back of our minds.
Can we meet that deadline if catastrophe hits?
Can we volunteer for that Christmas play and get revisions done when that email comes in on December 4th and they need them by December 23rd?
Can we get those lights strung in the shape of a Star of David while setting up a Living Nativity with borrowed sheep and camels?
Okay, the camels might be a stretch! :) But you get the gist. It gets tricky.... and trickier yet when we worry that we're disappointing parents (throw in a nursing home or assisted living or illness into the mix, right?????) or disappointing children, spouses, editors, friends, neighbors.... the list is long and intense, my friends!
But life happens. Whether you're a Type A "Planned-to-the-minute" gal or a "Let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may" kind of person, the holidays have their own brand of pressure.
My advice: Breathe. Blink. And breathe again.
Scale down. Trim back. Pray. Talk to God. Spend more time with your Nativity scene and less time with Amazon and QVC.... You can stretch your arms and your efforts toward the things of God... and shrug off the things of national advertisers.
Christmas is a beautiful season, but Lord have mercy! It has become its own temptation.
I used to be a super shopper.... I blush to remember it! What was I thinking????
About fifteen years back I realized I was stupid. No, don't pat me on the back and say "Oh, you weren't stupid, Ruthy!!!!" Trust me: STUPID.
And then God gave me a smack upside the head, said "simmer down, there, little lady..." and I took His advice.
I still love to do things. Decorate. Bake. Laugh. Pray.... but I learned to never have a December deadline and if someone tries to push one on me, I say no. Nothing is going to mess up my Christmas, the prayerfulness of Advent, the joy of a Savior's birth... and I feel the same way about Lent before Easter.
I put out Great-grandma's handmade reindeer and Santa display.... I set up our thirty-year-old resin outdoor Nativity scene. Dave and the kids bought a piece each year for about three or four years... They haven't all weathered well! Kind of like me. They have their aches, cracks and pains, but passers by don't see that. They see the image of a family, struggling, tucked in a stable, having a baby... Lit by ground lights, they light up the night with the hope of Christmas. The meaning of Christmas.
I still work early in the day, like always. But removing deadlines and not overly-committing myself means that I can embrace the "Mary" part of me, the part that's often overshadowed by my Yankee "Martha" self. :)
And then if catastrophe strikes in the form of illness, breakage, sadness or grief, I can move forward.... share cookies from the freezer... Hugs from the heart.... the work of human hands to ease someone's heavy load.
I am here in cold, wet Western New York wishing you all the most blessed and beautiful of Christmas seasons! For, unto us a child is born! Unto us a Son is given! And He shall be called Wonderful! Counselor! The Prince of Peace! The Everlasting Father!!! And we can go forward together knowing that what we do for the least of these, we do for Him.
That makes it the best Christmas ever.
And to make this a lovely bit of relaxation, I'm going to send one lucky person a copy of my BRAND NEW WISHING BRIDGE STORY!!!!
"Embracing Light in Wishing Bridge", just released this week....
Leave a comment below and I'll tuck your name into the Sugar Cookie jar!
We've got this!
Multi-published, bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne loves Christmas but she also loves embracing the spirit of calm she avoided for way too long as she raised six kids and did too much shopping.... She loves God, her family, her country (yes, she bleeds red, white and blue proudly), chocolate, coffee, dogs and so many things! You can message her at loganherne@gmail.com or visit her website at ruthloganherne.com. Sending Christmas blessings!
37 Comments on Seekerville: The Journey Continues: Juggling Holidays Is An Art: Or a Catastrophe
But then I realized (a God-induced smack side the head for me, too!) that those childhood memories I was trying to make had very little to do with the trappings of Christmas, and all about the celebration of God's Light in the world (Isaiah 9:2-7.) What memories was I making? A stressed mother and very little peace, or a quiet time of reflection sprinkled with Christmas treats and the wonder of the nativity?
I opted for the second.
Now that the children are grown, I spend much of the first two weeks of December finishing up the year's projects, then the next week baking (not nearly as much as I used to!) and enjoying the Christmas season. Family. Friends. When Christmas arrives, it comes as a welcome friend, not a deadline to dread.
Thank you for this great post, Ruthy, and the wonderful reminder. And wishing all a joy-filled Christmas season!"
I was a dolt."
And no, everything doesn't have to be perfect, or homemade. Everyone whisper the three little words, "Slice and Bake."
Tip for younger parents: My husband and I never bought ANYTHING that had to be assembled, leading to remarkably peaceful Christmas Eves.
I'd still avoid a December deadline if someone tried to shove one at me, because who knows what can happen.
Thanks for the encouragement and reminding us what really matters.
KB"
I was updating addresses for Christmas cards and had planned to start getting cards done in November. But then tragedy struck. My best friend and I came down with Covid. We were both high risk. She passed away last Sunday. I'm still recovering and not sure how much I will be able to do Christmas wise.
I'll do what I can and the rest can wait till next year. I did have a fleeting thought of celebrating in January Through all the physical difficulties this year I can truly say God is still good.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas."
I look back and I just shake my head!"
We are blessed."
Blessings
Linda Marie Finn"
And you're welcome. :) We count our blessings and use our hands to help those around us. It's all good!"
Merry Christmas!"
I have scaled back on my Christmas season "to-do" list, and the release is a lovely exhale. The one area I have not trimmed back on yet is decorating. I have quite a few trees (with different themes). But, I have help and I do it early...so, I am not "crunched" come Advent, and my family, friends, and I can enjoy the lights ~ that indeed, is a tee-tiny reminder that points to the LIGHT of the world."
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