Only ten days to go before Christmas Eve and my baking is not done but ingredients sit on the kitchen counter in readiness should the mood strike me. My cards are scattered in separate piles on the family room couch. Some are ready for stamps, some need addresses. All need address labels and newsletters inserted – neither have been printed yet.
Our tree stands undecorated in place in the living room. We thought it would be a good idea to put it up and let our new kitten, Purrl, get accustomed to it before we added the extra enticement of sparkling dangling things. Except for once incident of attempted bulb chewing, she hasn’t attempted to climb the tree as of yet.
My shopping is done (I’m pretty sure) but there is much wrapping to be done. The gifts are stacked on the bed in the guest room in piles by recipient so I can easily guage that the stacks are even. The dining room table looks like we’ve had a party in there. Candy canes, ribbons and boxes cover the surface.
Tomorrow I’ll go to the Post Office. Once I know where my parents will be on Christmas Day, I’ll be able to send them all out.
So, with all this left to do, I’ll bet you’re wondering why I’m taking precious time to write it down and post it for the world to see. Well, it is my gift to you – whoever reads this.
My gift is my assurance that despite where you are in your preparations, in ten days, Christmas will happen. It will happen without decorations, without cookies, without presents or cards.
We put so much pressure on ourselves to create “the perfect Christmas” for other people. Why not create the same for yourself? Instead of approaching the season with a list of everything you have to do, why not look at it is what you’d like to do? Making your preparations a choice instead of a chore makes a big difference. Give yourself the gift of peace. Give yourself the gift of time.
If you’re a Christian, you believe God has already given us the greatest gift possible, His son. Why would you want to try to top that? If you’re not a Christian, why are you putting yourself through the whole thing in the first place? Then it really is much ado about nothing.
Take my gift and enjoy. Make yourself a cup of
tea. Put your feet up and relax for a while. Make time for yourself. You have ten days! God only had seven when He created the world!