It was supposed to be one of those perfect kinds of Saturdays. We’d tromp through the snow, get our tree, decorate it as a family and start getting the house ready for Christmas. As the day went on, I heard the annoyance in my voice. Decorating with the kids wasn’t what I expected it to be. To be honest, I found it stressful. By the time we had them in bed that night, I was weighed down with guilt from being impatient and annoyed throughout the day.
After we tucked them in, conviction washed over me. I sat down with my husband and it all became so clear. This is the one and only December 2014. Our kids will never be this age again. We need to let this Christmas be just the way it’s supposed to be and lay all expectations and comparisons aside.
What I think hurts us sometimes the most is when we spend our time thinking about what things “should” be like. The beautiful thing about each Christmas season is that it’s okay for each one to be different.
As we fly through this month of anticipation, traditions and beauty, let yourself carve out enough time to enjoy it. This season was meant to be enjoyed not only by kids, but by Moms, too. And sometimes it’s hard, isn’t it? If we’re being honest, sometimes it’s so hard to not feel like Christmas is just a big to-do list, that falls mostly on us Moms. I’ve personally found myself having a little pity-party, feeling fairly certain that if I didn’t do the Christmas “things”, they would never get done.
Glennon Milton, writer of Momastery said ”when we live in that picture of what should be instead of what is, we add a layer of guilt on top of what is already very difficult. And that makes it almost impossible. It’s extremely counter cultural to admit that life is not perfect. I think that people are desperate to admit together that life is messy and that marriage can be hard, and that parenting is excruciating sometimes. And that doesn’t mean that you’re doing something wrong.”
You give, and you give and you give and you give. To your kids, to your husband, to your community and maybe you’re tired. Maybe you feel like you’ve given until you’re empty. Maybe you ache on the inside for someone to come alongside you and make Christmas special for you, while you’re making it special for everyone else.
I pray that as Christmas approaches, you open your hands and let yourself receive from the ultimate giver. That for every item you’ve crossed off your list, you’d receive a double dose of joy, hope and that unbeatable sense that you’re creator loves you more than you could ever imagine. Slow down and let this Christmas be more than just pouring out, but instead do it all a little different— fill up on that neverending grace!
Christmas isn’t just for them, but it’s for you, too. I know you’re running around doing those things that make you truly irreplaceable. For a moment, soak in the truth that Christmas is for all of us. The rich, the poor, the broken, the tired, the hurting, the Moms, the kids, the loved and neglected. Christmas is Christ-Mass— the celebration of the birth of Jesus and He came for ALL of us.
Soak in His endless supply of fresh grace. Rest in His never-ending love and forgiveness. Wake up to second chances everyday. His love is looking for you. His love is working on you. Shake the defeat. Christmas is for Moms, too. May you do all those things that we know only Moms can do with great joy and may you become very full and energized with the reality of the gift that came for us all.
