I realized early on this Christmas season that Christmas was
going to be different for me, and for my family, I had this feeling start in
early October.
For me Christmas has and always will be about the presents, giving
them, getting them, watching others open their presents, seriously that is what
Christmas was all about for me. ok it still is, but it's different this year.
I don't consider my self materialistic if that is what you
are thinking, I consider Christmas time a time that can totally be all about
the stuff you get, but really, can you
really remember what you got last Christmas from every one? I didn't think so.
So for me Christmas isn't about getting presents it about the peace you feel
when your present is received. Let me
explain:
I believe that the gift should be given in the right
spirit, are you excited, loving, genuine
in the gift that you are giving? This right here has I think more impact on our
willingness to offer the receiver of our gift than the gift it's self. I will often times ask Why am I giving this
gift to ____ ____(insert family member name here.) If it's not out of love for
the family member I put the gift back and try again.
I really thought the more I planned the more peaceful the
Christmas season would be, That went out the window well before Thanks
Giving. So it's not in the details so to
speak. I think it's in our realistic goals we set. I always dream of amazing
cookie exchanges with friends and family, and a wonderful family party, and
crafting into the morning, and so on... But for me this season none of those
are the case. I have found the Christmas
Spirit is most abundant in my home when as a family we did simple things, like
frost cookies together and talk about how much fun Christmas is, teaching my
children about Christ's birth, singing Rudolf the red nose reindeer for what
seemed like the 50th time that day. The
Christmas spirit is in the unplanned, every day moments of our lives when we
chose to feel peace.
I think being in the right mind has a lot to do with it. When
we are rushed around we cannot feel peace, so how can we expect to feel the Christmas
spirit if we can't feel peace. It's wonderful to keep family traditions, I love
traditions, I thrive on traditions. I am finding that the only one tradition that
really matters is being with your loved ones, your family, and celebrating the
love between each other. That tradition
can be spread throughout the year, or a small card simply saying that you love
them. So Traditions as fun as they are can hinder the Christmas Spirit, I have
had to take a step back and say is this needful to my family's Christmas spirit,
if not we slow down, rest and regroup.
Singing loud for all
to hear, is a great tactic that gets you into the Christmas spirit, I think it
has something to do with that you are singing for other's to enjoy, YOU ARE
SERVING, and blighting some else's day. anytime that I need to feel the spirit of
Christmas I will sing, or listen to It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. and that
always melts my heart.
If none of these things are working, pray to understand
Christ's birth. it works, it has worked for me time and time again. I usually
find a new outlook on what Christmas means to me, and my family.
I Wish all my family and friends peace and love during this
wonderful Christmas time.
Lisa
