It’s hard for me to believe as I write this post, another Christmas is over and a new year is beginning. Each year, I eagerly anticipate the Christmas season, and each year I try to place the decorations just so, write personalized cards to friends and family, and buy the perfect gifts for loved ones. I grew up internalizing the idea that Christmas needed to be perfect to be enjoyed. But after I had a colossal meltdown last year—due to the chaos Christmas decorating generated in my home and life—I decided I’d better rethink some things. So, this year I relaxed and aimed for beauty, peace, and joy rather than perfection. In the process, I learned a few things…
Lesson 1: The holidays don’t have to be perfect. (And they won’t be). My house doesn’t have to be Insta-worthy, even in December.
Lesson 2: You can keep decorating up to the last minute. I don’t have to have everything in place by the Saturday after Thanksgiving. In response to this epiphany, I kept decorating until a few days before Christmas. Not because I wanted perfection, but because I wanted beauty and there were some decorations, like the giant wreath on my gate, that had been left behind.
Lesson 3: Jesus really is the reason for the season. All through Advent I continually tried to re-focus on the entire reason we even celebrate Christmas. Focusing on the miracle of Christmas and the amazing Love it signifies, helped re-prioritize my activities and my energy. And brought me the peace and joy the angels proclaimed to the Bethlehem shepherds 2000 years ago.
Ultimately, Christmas 2021 helped me realize the only perfection involved in the holiday is the Christ Himself. And in His light, everything else pales anyway.
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