Well the hustle and bustle is pretty much winding down....I can hear the collective sighs of relief !! I have to admit this Christmas season was smooth sailing. It was almost weird it went off pretty much with out a hitch. Before you get all jealous on me don't worry we've had our share of crazy stressful Christmas seasons. We've had the billions of toys to find and then assemble. The stress of making both sides of in-laws happy and really giving each of them a fair share of quality time. We've had the puking holidays, the ear infection, the just plain old over tired cranky holidays. We've had the backed up sink right before Christmas dinner holiday when you have 15 people for dinner and no where to wash dishes. We've had the holidays where you are counting your pennies and stretching every dollar. (we've also been blessed with above and beyond many years)
So as I crawled into bed on Christmas night I was almost a little smug with myself, "HA! We've mastered this holiday thing !!" I told myself. Then quickly rebuked myself because you see so much of our uneventful holiday was just that it was UNEVENTFUL ...you can't plan or predict backed up sinks or stomach bugs or broken toys or even grumpy kids. So even though we had no so called glitches there was a sort of peace that settled over us this year. Now don't get me wrong I had some waves of panic over the usual things..what to get the in-laws, making sure each kids kind of get the same amount, Christmas cards, and a way too big tree for my living room. On a whole though it was pretty tranquil. We enjoyed some quality family time as we lit our advent wreath and followed a devotion through the weeks leading up to Christmas. I did as much shopping as I could online which cut down on me being in the stores with 4 kids. Truth be told my kids like the stores more than I do..I hate shopping..I really hate crowds, so this really helped me to keep sane. So all these things did aide in me feeling "lighter" this season but if I had to pinpoint one thing that really helped the most it would be the 5 people that live with me. Steve and I have always worked through things as a team...but of course as the years go on its been perfected less work more flow. He knows the things that trigger stress and tries to steer me away..or he verbally reminds me that I am stressing over something that is going to pass in a few weeks. That helps me keep it into perspective. He really is my right hand (or I am his right hand :)..from wrapping, to errands, to helping hosting I never have to ask twice for help....for that I am very,very grateful. This year though was the first year I didn't feel like we were a two person team....the kids really pitched in. First of all they kept it "joyful" they would bring me back to reality when I was stressing about the silliness. Kids have a knack with that don't they..some more than others...Steven does that for me, and as much as I get irritated at how RIGHT he is..I appreciate the shot of reality. I also appreciate the physical help that they all can be now. Now I know that if we didn't invest in them all year long, encouraging them to be selfless and to look for ways to serve, they would be a drain on the holidays. Instead things were getting done...cookies were baked, gifts were wrapped, rooms were swept and dusted, tables were set, and for the most part smiles were on faces. I was no longer a one man show...and that was the "peace" that made this Christmas sweet.
So this is not at all to gloat on how great our Christmas was....its to say that I am beginning to realize that Christmas is really all about what you invest in your relationships all year long. So many of us think by putting up some Martha Stewart Christmas decorations, dressing in our best, buying the perfect gift for everyone and sending the Christmas card that portrays our children as cherubs...this will then guarantee the Christmas season we've been longing for. That's really only making sure the "outside" is looking perfect...but you see the outside is subject to all the "unpredictable." When we've taken time to prepare the inside, well then the "unpredictable" doesn't ruffle us as much. I think that is what I felt this year I didn't try to bring us all together and stick a big "perfect" bow on us for the day. We've grown this year in huge ways, through some difficult things but through those things beautiful things have begun to emerge. Are we perfect?...not a chance...have we arrived?...not even close....But do we love??? yes with all our HEARTS....when its easy, when its ugly, when its messy, and when its lovely. So those were some of the "fruits" I "tasted" this Christmas season....and when you get a taste of something so sweet it makes you grateful, but most of all prepared to persevere through some more tilling of the soil in your family garden. As 2012 draws near I pray that each of us find the spot in our garden that the Lord has for us to do some work...so that we may reap a harvest of peace, love and joy for many years to come!
Galatians 6:7 For at the proper time we will reap a harvest IF we do not give up.
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