It’s finally here! It’s Christmas Day! Merry Christmas!
Christmas Day and the days leading up to it, also known as Advent, are my favorites of the year. It’s a time where I can wear flashy gaudy clothes and people think that I am wearing my “ugly Christmas” attire. I can sample all of my Christmas foods, visit all of the people, go to all of the parties, and see all of the Christmas specials, including hundreds of Hallmark Christmas movies. Throw in a few days of shopping and it’s a perfect Christmas, right?
In the past, I would do, see, eat, watch, and buy all of the things, people, foods, drinks, desserts, specials, concerts, movies, animated TV, and presents. Then, Christmas Day would arrive. I would have fun and socialize and eat and drink and open presents and maybe sing. After my last gathering, I would go home thinking, “Is that it? Weeks of planning, preparation, and execution have all come to an end, at least for a whole year! What a letdown.” Then, I would be sad as my world shifted from glitz and sparkle to dull, drab, and commonplace.
But, somewhere along the way, things changed. Maybe it was having a child or four that caused it. Maybe it was times of financial hardship. Or, maybe it was grieving family members that had died. Somehow someway things changed. Suddenly, I couldn’t do all of the things anymore. I would run out of time or money or both with my list of people and things to do, see, buy, eat, drink, or watch would not be completed by December 25. I would experience a letdown again, because I had not done all that I meant to do.
Two of my favorite animated Christmas specials speak out against this attitude of go, do, and be all of the things at Christmastime. They are the original Chuck Jones version of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas. In, as my family called it, “The Grinch”, the title character observes, “It came without ribbons or shopping or bags… somehow it came just the same. “ In the Peanuts special, good ol’ Charlie Briwn has a minor meltdown and screams, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” His good friend Linus replies,”Sure, Charlie Brown, I will tell you what it’s all about.” Then Linus recites these words that were written over four hundred years ago,”And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” It was a simple Christmas that very first Christmas Day. Why can’t it be simple now? Do only what you want to do.
When I have gone out of my way to make Christmas the best one ever for everyone else, I end up letting myself down, because I didn’t do what I really wanted. Instead I did what I felt like everyone else needed. But the truth is that what everyone needed was for me to not feel so wrung out and strung out that I didn’t enjoy the time spent with others. I encourage you to do exactly what you want to do and not one tiny bit more. That will make for a very merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, and as Tiny Tim observed, “God bless us, everyone!”
Journey with Monica 