There are just two days to go until Christmas and the panic is setting in for some.
It never fails: we have so much to do with shopping and wrapping and baking and visiting but somehow it all seems to get done, doesn’t it? Sure there have been years when the package doesn’t get delivered in time but you can just print a photo and put that in a gift box. We’ve done that at our house. You stress and stress that the gift will arrive and then you just accept that it won’t and you know what? That’s okay.
Everything always seems to work out and if it doesn’t — we adjust.
I learned a long time ago to give up on the idea of a “perfect Christmas.” Enjoy what ya got! Besides, look at how it worked out for Chevy Chase trying to create the “perfect Griswold Christmas.”
I’ve noticed some friends over the past few days who couldn’t find the time to do it all. They seemed to put a lot of unecesary stress on themselves. The news doesn’t help much running stories about yesterday being “Panic Saturday.” Let’s see if I’ve got this straight: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, and Panic Saturday. We’ve got the busiest shopping day, the busiest travel day, the busiest day at Amazon and the busiest day at the Post Office. Did I forget any?
I think I had the most fun this year on days when I just went and “wandered.” My wife and I spent a Tuesday just wandering through some stores. We have the opportunity to shop during the week because she works two 24-hour shifts on Monday and Friday. We decided to avoid weekend shopping this year and go when it was a little quieter and that seemed to work well.
The other “wandering” day was when I asked my daughter Kat if she could go shopping with me because I needed a few more gift ideas for my wife. Kat had six final exams to take at Bridgewater State the past week or so and I was a bit concerned because I didn’t want to add anymore stress. She did have a free morning so we headed out. I just needed some ideas and she came in handy as we worked our way through a few stores. She remembered that my wife had liked certain things and it really helped.
I realize things were much more hectic when the children were younger, or at least it seems that way. They had their Christmas concerts and gave out cards to classmates. There was a Christmas pageant at church and carolling with the junior choir. We had to find them a new Christmas outfit and help them with their shopping. It’s kind of nice now that they do their own.
We had gifts from Santa and left cookies and milk for him and carrots for the reindeer. Good times, good times. There wasn’t much sleep back then if I remember it right. Christmas Eve ran late and we always seemed to have a munchkin that wanted to get up around 5 a.m. I think it was Doug.
Great memories but, like I said last week, I try not to compare. Christmas is different now and I’m sure it’s changed for you over the years. Children grow up and some loved ones are no longer with us but we’ll always have those memories.
Let the music take you back to another time that’s filled with wonderful memories. I know this can be a difficult time for many people but try to remember “the reason for the season.” God gave us all a wonderful gift on that first Christmas. Let that fill your heart with warmth and comfort.
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