The Holiest of Christian Holidays

Merry Christmas Morning!

It is Christmas morning. It is also a Sunday morning. The holiest of Christian holidays with the holiest day of the Christian's week. A double-header, so to speak. For me, this Christmas season was very different from so many before, for a number of reasons. Less work stress and more time made it enjoyable to plan and prepare for the more secular spin on the holiday. Time to trim the tree, bake goodies, shop and wrap. Time to spend with friends and family. Even time to reflect on this, and past, Christmases. This was the second year we did Christmas morning stockings with the boys (and Sarah) on Christmas Eve morning. So waking up today, I haven’t figured out whether I am relieved to have the flurry behind me or sad that the season is waning. How can I express letdown that the anticipation is behind me when it all played out to a magnificent crescendo? It couldn't have been better! The icing on it all will be our annual trip to Estes Park with our dear friends for New Year's. That  and our Progressive dinner with them before Christmas is always the highlight of the season!

We've not taken part in church services the past few years, but that doesn't mean that "The Reason for the Season" is not planted firmly in our hearts. Fellowship with our friends and family is very important to us, and I would hope that our actions reflect the love of Christ in our lives every day of the year. It's hard to equate dozens of presents stacked to the ceiling with the humble beginnings of our Savior in a stable 2000 years ago. I learned to separate the distinction years ago. We can enjoy different books, movies and music in the same span of time. We love our children separately, yet equally. So, too, it is possible to enjoy celebrations of winter, Santa and Christ's birth in a single breath. Santa Claus isn't a replacement for Jesus, no more than snow is a replacement for those who winter in Palm Springs. 


Expectations run pretty high this time of year. How can you afford all the lights and the presents you want to put out? How can you bake like Emeril and decorate like Martha Stewart? How can you live up to the ideal of a Christ-like life?  There's pressure to "make" the holidays work, at all cost. If you can't pull off "perfect", then you're a failure. That is where we, as a society, short-change ourselves. The holidays are a time to express ourselves however we want, to celebrate, to reflect, to enjoy.  Break the candy mold, be who you are and love it.

I hope I never forget again how incredible it is to ENJOY the Season. 

May you enjoy yours, as well.