Tag Archives: Christmas

My own personal bully

I read a post by HandsFreeMama earlier this week about the bully close to home.  I realized as I read her story, I am my own personal bully.  I bully myself in believing perfection is possible.  It is difficult for me to not be the best in all things, so when I decided to take it easy this Christmas, I’ve had a difficult time forgiving myself.

I love Christmas and everything that involves Christmas.  However this year Christmas is different.  Don’t get me wrong, I still love the decorations, food, and music that celebrates the precious gift of Jesus.  This year I am not doing all of these things.  I have a tree, but it is a small tree.  I normally decorate a tree in several rooms of my house, each worthy to be displayed in Macy’s.  Each room is fully decorated with a theme for each room.  I am still baking, but I am fine with the simple snickerdoodles.  I still enjoy listening to the Christmas music, but I’m not singing in the choir.

After reading this article, I am reminded that all of these activities are lovely, but they are not important if they separate me in anyway from  my boys (my husband and my son).  So instead of spending a weekend decorating, I am watching a movie with my boys.  Instead of choir practice I am catching up on the day.  Snickerdoodles are Jeremy’s favorite, so that is hardly a loss.

What I need to do, is give myself the permission to not be perfect.  I need to remember that it isn’t perfection Curtis will remember when he leaves our home, but how he felt when he was at home.

 

HandsFreeMama http://www.handsfreemama.com/2013/12/10/the-bully-too-close-to-home

Christmas Traditions

Growing up Christmas Eve was spent at Grany’s and Christmas Day was spent at Grandma’s. After I got married and started work, it was time to develop new traditions.
  1. Opening our stockings Christmas Eve
  2. Christmas Eve service at church
  3. Milk and cookies for Santa
  4. Breakfast casserole after presents

Christmas Blessings

Today I got to hug and kiss my godchildren, Josh and Anna.  I can’t believe how quickly they are growing.  I wish they lived nearby so I could see them all the time.  I would love for us to go to the same church, same sports, and celebrate birthdays and other big events together.  It amazes me how much love you can have for a child that you never gave birth to.  However, I have a deep love of the children of people that are very important to me.  A gift God gave us, this overwhelming sense of love.  A love that can make you heart ache or feel higher than any other emotion.  God is love.

Happy Holidays

When did “Happy Holidays” become an anti-Christian sentiment?  Aren’t all of the holidays from God?  Growing up “Happy Holidays” was the shortened version of “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year”!  Certainly not like the “x” that takes Christ out of Christmas (most people lack the knowledge that can also be a tilted cross, therefore Christ is still there).  Why do Christians mandate that everyone and all stores greet with “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays”?  What message are we sending when we get fighting mad over a simple phrase.  Doesn’t actions speak greater than words?  Wouldn’t an expression of “Happy Holidays” full of love show more of God’s love than a “Merry Christmas” said out of spite or to “prove a point!  God is love.  God is here.  We are made in God’s image to love.  Are we being loving when we get hung up on phrases instead of what the phrases mean?  So the next time someone says “Happy Holidays” to you, can you try to remember the gift given to us that special night and the blessing of a new year.