Inside: While preparing my home for Christmas, like most people, I can become so busy with all the details that I forget what matters the most.
Preparing for Christmas
The countdown tells me it’s eight days to Christmas, and I’m late again. What is it about the month of December that has me feeling perpetually behind? My to-do list seems to triple over night. And everything is important, whether it’s writing a Christmas card or buying candy to give out to the Amazon drivers who seem to spend an inordinate amount of time here as the most holiest of holidays approaches.
I don’t do stress well, though I tend to bring it on myself. In pursuit of the perfect Christmas, I hold myself to the highest standards. Every ornament needs to be on the tree. All packages–which must contain the perfect gifts–should be wrapped. (Bags are cheating.) Not only do I need to make all of my signature dishes for the season, I must discover the next exciting Christmas cookie recipe.
Don’t get me started on my house. Dusting, cleaning, checking dark corners for dirt, ceilings for cobwebs. My least favorite tasks. Dust cloth in hand, I can work myself into quite a foul mood. Nothing seems quite right. Or good enough.
When I find myself in this condition, I realize that my quiet time with God has suffered. In preparing my home for Christmas, I feel the push and pull of the Martha and Mary sides of me. In this Yuletide tug of war, the Martha in me wants everything to resemble a Norman Rockwell painting. The Mary in me tells me to slow down, to put on some soft Christmas carols and spend some time in quiet worship with the One who came to earth as a Babe in the manger.
It is in these moments that life becomes manageable again. Priorities shift.
Suddenly the perfect Gift is right in front of me.
This day in past posts:
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 4: A Truly Southern Christmas 2017
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 4: In Pursuit of Perfect Pines 2018
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 4: For Whom the Christmas Bells Toll 2019
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 4: Clothespin Stars 2020
Related posts:
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 8: The Write Gift
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 11: Stable Reflections