Never Ever Dull
With every conversation, I always seem to end with "Never a dull moment"....our lives are rich, complex, and beautiful stories. Join me in laughing about everyday things and appreciating life-bumpy roads and all.
"We're definitely doing it this year," my Oldest stated firmly. "You said no presents last year but then you went out and got us gifts. So then I had to scramble and find gifts right before Christmas." Sigh.
That conversation was on repeat in my head as we neared December 25th. No presents for Christmas? That just seemed illegal! But it was becoming reality quickly as the days leading to that holiday that seemingly is all about shopping, hustling and bustling, and frantically getting things done before Christmas Eve. I know Christmas is about the birth of my Savior, but if we're really transparent, there's a lot of pressure to have it all together during this season. By "all", I mean the gifts purchased, wrapped, and placed under a tree that is beautifully decorated beside windows that have wreaths neatly hanging in the center of the top panes. Christmas is wonderful but it can be exhausting especially when you're doing it as a single mom. So when the Oldest brought up the conversation about truly not buying gifts this year and gave her reasoning, I had to pause and give it consideration. My four and I discussed it and only Kaz Kid felt the emptiness of not having gifts. The majority ruled. We agreed no presents for this Christmas. At first, it was nerve wracking. Everyone around me was buying gifts for their Secret Santas at work. I'd walk into Target and immediately felt the urge to travel down the dollar (and three and five dollar) aisle to pick up stocking stuffers. I'd see great deals pop up on my device and felt the clock ticking down with the need to get the "perfect" gift before the alarm sounded. Yet, each day, I held back. Each day, I exhaled more deeply than the day before, recognizing that I didn't feel the need as much as the previous day. I'd awake and settle down in my chair to sip my coffee and have my prayer time. My brain that is so often cluttered with a zillion things running through it was clear. For the first time in a long time, I pushed back on the busyness of the season and prepared my heart for the coming of the King. Christmas arrived and along with it, our experiment of no presents. The outcome? I felt that our presence as a family far outweighed the idea of presents. And for me personally, I drew closer to God. By eliminating the things that distracted me, I felt drawn to His presence. Presence or Presents? It was a tough choice but my prayer is that all of us choose to be present with those we love and draw closer to HIs presence.
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AuthorFun-loving mom to 4 kids and 1 big puppy. Fifth grade teacher of amazing little people who have never ending things to share with me. Love to discuss Jesus, diy projects, and life. Trying to keep it simple: Love Jesus, love people. Archives
December 2021
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