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Last week at our MOPS brunch, my friend Lucy spoke a poignant message to us. She told us that Christmas shouldn't be about STRESS... but instead about REST. (Rearrange a few letters... see?) She gave us an anagram for REST -
R: Remember... remember the reason for Christmas (JESUS!), remember Christmas pasts, remember to rest!
E: Enjoy... enjoy the season. There's so much beauty in traditions, history, family, snow, and most of all, the Christmas story. If we don't enjoy it, we miss it.
S: Simplify... learn to say "no" to some of our obligations. What can we do without this year? Maybe it's just cutting out something we feel burdened to "get done" during the Christmas season. This season, I decided to not decorate the outside of my house, save for a wreath on the door. It feels good seeing those bags of garland, knowing that don't HAVE to be put up. Probably no one cares but me anyway! And Gary isn't too upset that I'm not having him put up outside lights, either. :) We haven't taken our family Christmas photo for our cards yet, and if we don't, that's okay too!
T: Treasure... treasure the moments of the season and treasure the GIFT of Christmas: Jesus! Lucy also reminded us that the magical years of little ones and the joy in their faces during Christmas doesn't last forever, so treasure it now. I'm glad tomorrow's a new day so I can start over and treasure my girls. I did NOT treasure them today! LOL
I keep thinking, "Okay, once I have Christmas 'done' then I can sit and enjoy it." I think I've realized today that that's just stupid. Christmas was 'done' a long, long time ago. To think I can do anything to make it any better or more perfect is foolish. God gave us the gift of his Son. He came to earth as a man... as a baby. What can be more perfect? That conjures up so many things in my mind. It's such a wonderful, touching story and I'm ashamed that I'm not more eager to share it. My favorite Christmas songs from that CD are all wrought with so much emotion for me (well, almost... Barbra Streisand's version of Jingle Bells is just fun, maybe not so emotional! :) ), that it really gets me thinking about Christmas and its meaning. Maybe I'll write about that in the next couple days. Music really speaks to me during the Christmas season!
Anyway... I don't think anyone ever reads this, but if you're reading, I hope you take time to REST. Let me know how it goes for you! :)
Everything you wrote is so true. I've been thinking that next year I'd like to simplify a little bit more. We ditched the outdoor lights, too, except for a wreath and 3 of those small pre-lit pine trees. Especially now when the kids are small I really don't want to be running around here and there. I want to be baking and wrapping and laughing and making our own traditions together. I think I missed out on some of that this year.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thanks again....I'll try to REST!
That is a great entry, Angie!! I hope you have a very RESTful Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteMany HUGS Angie! Thanks for making me stop and think. I just have so much going on right now that I'm not allowing myself to just sit down, relax and soak it all in - and whatever happens, happens. I know what you mean about having your favorite Christmas songs bring out your emotions. I cannot listen to/sing O Holy Night without sobbing. I thought I was weird. :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! Love you, Dee