Happy Thanksgiving/Merry Christmas!
I confess, I’ve never done Black Friday. I hate shopping on
a good day. The thought of getting out there with hundreds of other people and
fighting over the last two WowWee Fingerlings on the shelf makes me break out
in a cold sweat. I’m more relaxed having my teeth drilled.
Many years ago, my parents, my sister
and brother-in-law, and my husband and I found a great deal on an old log cabin
on twelve acres in North Carolina and went in together to purchase it. It
needed a lot of work, and we spent a couple of vacations tackling projects like
putting on a new metal roof. That Christmas, we decided to spend the holiday there
and, instead of buying gifts for each other, each bought something for the
cabin. (Hubby and I bought a large griddle and made pancakes Christmas
morning.)
When we arrived, we headed into the woods with our ax to
search for a suitable Christmas tree. We quickly learned that though there were
lots of evergreens, they weren’t the Christmas tree type. But that didn’t deter
us. After tying our Charlie Brown tree to the rafters, because the branches
were too droopy to stand up on their own, we strung popcorn and berries and made
ornaments. We had no TV, but had great times sharing stories huddled around the
wood-burning stove. (We hadn’t rebuilt the toppled chimney yet so couldn’t use
the fireplace.)
That was the simplest Christmas I ever had but one of the
most memorable. It was also the beginning of a change in my attitude toward the
holiday season. At the risk of sounding like Scrooge’s long-lost sister, I
spent a lot of years dreading the days leading up to Christmas, hoping I’d
survive the insane schedule (and the shopping) and looking forward to when it
would all be over. I often wondered where is the peace and joy that everyone
sings about at Christmastime. Looking at the faces of the people around me, I
knew I wasn’t alone in those thoughts.
I know, Jesus is the reason
for the season. Without God’s amazing gift, there would be no Christmas. I’ve
known the meaning of Christmas since I was old enough to talk. But finding my
own “Silent Night” in the midst of all the hustle and bustle and taking time
out to focus on what the holiday actually means hasn’t always been easy.
Over the years, I’ve gotten better. I’ve come to realize
that I don’t have to say yes to every activity. Stretching myself too thin isn’t
good, even when the activities are church-related. And since it’s always been a
source of stress for me, I don’t shop anymore. (Gift cards and money work just
fine.) I love to find simple ways to bring Christmas cheer to those around me, whether
it’s offering a smile and word of encouragement to a harried young mother, or
singing Christmas carols for older people who are unable to get out.
I’m still not where I want to be. I’m trying to be
selective, but my schedule is filling up a little too quickly. But I’m
determined to keep my focus where it should be—on the ultimate gift, given for
us over 2,000 years ago.
What about you? Do you find yourself caught in a flurry of
activity, unable to escape? Or have you found a way to experience peace and joy
in the midst of the madness? What Christmas traditions have you found
especially meaningful?
And speaking of Christmas, my book Bodyguard for Christmas releases this Saturday. I hope you'll check it out.
Someone’s after his little boy.
She has one chance to save them both.
When his young son is nearly kidnapped, assistant district attorney Colton Gale needs a Christmas refuge—and a live-in bodyguard. Though former military police officer Jasmine McNeal fights to shield them 24/7, she refuses to get attached. But growing close to the little boy and his father might be her only shot at keeping them alive—and becoming a family beyond the holidays.
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