Empty Nesters

DISCLAIMER

Okay, now that Kasey has outed me as a person who "hates" Christmas, I need to offer this disclaimer. I love so much about the Christmas season-the smells, the songs, the decorations, the way people are so much happier and nicer to each other and, of course, all the yummy food!! I love that it is the time of year when so may people try to be more Christ-like and think about Him and the exemplarary life he led. What I don't like is how Santa has become the man of the season and gift giving and receiving the main event. What I don't love is the way it's commercialized and how women, especially, feel they have to do it all: decorate to the hilt, get out the proverbial Christmas letters with cards, shop for everyone, do the grocery shopping and cooking, clean, figure out what unique item to get friends, neighbors and relatives, and then wrap them up beautifully, etc, etc, etc. I have spent many a season trying to make the season "magical" for everyone else and ended up stressed and exhausted and not enjoying it at all. My message for all is: It is a wonderful, magical time of the year-just don't make yourself believe that you have to do everything to make it such. Maybe one year you concentrate on decorating, the next year cooking, the next year the cards and letters. Give yourself a break and permission to enjoy the season too. When I quit doing the cards and letters, made a deal with friends to not do the perennial gift giving to each other and decided to cut back on my decorating I found I had more time to read about Christ (the reason for the season), meditate about peace on earth and especially peace with my relationships and look for ways to serve and give to others in simple ways. I have given myself permission to really enjoy the holidays without having to be Perfect Pam. So if you are feeling stressed, cut out some of the busy-ness and have a Merry Christmas!

P.S. My idea of a great Christmas would be to just have family all together, share a great meal (sounds like Thanksgiving-my favorite holiday) and spend all the money we'd spend on presents on adopting a child from World Vision or some other worthy organization. Just a thought,family, for a future Christmas.