The week before Christmas is my favorite week of the holiday season. The kids are out of school, work projects wind down, school activities are over and everyone is in the holiday spirit.
In my corporate days, there was an unwritten rule that after a certain date, work literally stopped. Any long-term or difficult assignments were met with the phrase, “let’s circle back after the holidays.” Email out-of-office replies started popping up indicating no response until January.
It’s the time of year when you turn off the alarm and maybe even skip the gym. Shhh! Don’t tell Santa. You ease into the day with a Hallmark movie, coffee, and a blanket. I love to turn on the tree lights first thing in the morning. It’s always evident we’re ready for a break. Time to rest and recharge.
As a kid, I remember how much I looked forward to winter break. On the last day of school, my mom let me open a special present. By the time I came home for Christmas break, our house was decorated, gifts were purchased, and only cooking remained for Christmas Day. It was time to sleep in and wear my pajamas all day. Nearby, I could find, not one, but two grandparents’ houses with cookies and a warm greeting. Or as I like to do now, spend the day skiing with friends.
During the last decade, I love this week even more! As an entrepreneur, I set my own schedule and enjoy time off with my husband and son. More importantly though, our different Christmas is much less stressful and simple. It’s hard to imagine that I don’t have a dozen errands the week before Christmas!
Christmas Day Letdown
Perhaps I prefer this week because I view Christmas Day as a bit of a letdown. I know that sounds terrible. It should be a day to eat, drink, and be merry. And we usually do.
There’s nothing like the excitement of my son early on Christmas morning. The older he gets, the more he sleeps in but there’s still a twinkle in his eye. I recall the days when he pounced on our bed at the crack of dawn. I loved it, once I had coffee of course!
So, how can we keep the Christmas Spirit through the entire 12 Days of Christmas? (By the way, that’s January 6.) Will I be disappointed this Christmas Day? I hope not.
But the modern-day holiday season has not helped alleviate my feeling of disappointment. Advertising and consumerism turn the holiday inside out. And I talk to many people who hope to just survive the holidays. Nothing seems merry.
We’re harried and hurried to create an amazing Christmas that rarely leads to peace on earth. So much goes into preparing for Christmas, (shopping, baking, wrapping, decorating, more shopping) only to be undone in one day.
And it’s exacerbated by the promise of after-Christmas sales before we unwrap a single gift.
Peace On Earth
In an effort to center myself during the season of Advent, I silently say, “It’s not your birthday.” In the wise words of Mike Slaughter, it is Jesus’ birthday, not mine.
As any parent knows, the holidays are full of anticipation and excitement. Presents are wrapped, houses are cleaned, and meals are prepared. Really, it is a lot like how we prepared for my son’s arrival and I certainly wasn’t disappointed that day!
On the contrary, I’ll never forget the peace I felt watching him sleep on my chest. So, isn’t that what we’re doing? Getting ready for Jesus and his birth? Now that is peace on earth.
[bctt tweet=”Isaiah 9:6 – For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” username=”simplyenoughamy”]
Regardless of your faith, I hope you’ll join me in a different kind of Christmas. A holiday season filled with joy and peace instead of disappointment and despair. Being disappointed is not what Christmas is about. It’s about spending time with those we love and being grateful for all that we have. It’s Simply Enough.
My advice to you the week before Christmas is to throw away the to-do list. You’ve done enough. I promise.
Merry Christmas!
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