Maybe Christmas he thought, doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Christmas, perhaps, was a little bit more.
Dr. Seuss
Christmas, this time of year is beautiful, and yet can be, a very stressful time of year. We love the ‘season,’ and yet we do not look forward to(or at least I don’t), the stress of shopping for the perfect gifts, baking everyone’s favorite treats, decorating a sparkling, beautiful tree, planning for the tastiest meal, attending all the functions, finding the perfect outfits, CREATING THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS.
STOP!!!! This is not what Christmas is about or at least it shouldn’t be.
When I sit in quiet reflection, I like to recall first, the Miracle of Christmas, the beauty and simplicity of the manger, the gift of LOVE. I recall my precious childhood memories of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree, the family gatherings where we are packed into a small house that was filled with love and laughter, the Christmas Eve church service where Mom would leave a special something for a family less fortunate than us, the Christmas morning delight of digging through my stocking (Dad’s work socks) filled with candy and a Christmas orange, the fun times spent with cousins playing board games, hugs from grandparents, the smile on my parent’s faces when they opened my gifts to them that although they were not expensive, they were wrapped with much love and excitement, the gift of a used ski doo snowmobile that brought us endless hours of fun. The true magic of Christmas was found in the moments, not in the gifts wrapped in fancy paper, glittery ribbons and fancy bows. The gifts of LOVE. Nothing was perfect, and yet, everything was perfect, as perfect as the beautiful glow from the star that sat atop our Christmas tree.
Christmas, keeping it simple, for in simplicity lies life’s greatest gifts and precious moments. How do we do this and still feel we are honoring Christmas traditions, family gatherings, and creating those special Christmas memories?
LOVE…. Love in action, not reaction.
“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple, loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas?
Bob Hope
LOVE…. Love costs us nothing and yet means the most. Love in action.
LOVE that is shared through priceless gestures and simple acts of kindness.
Gifts like:
*Taking time to visit. Time to give someone your full attention, an old folk’s home perhaps.
*Sharing a simple hug. A hug that says, you matter.
*A compliment that brings a feeling of warmth and worth.
*A simple text. Merry Christmas! Love you!
*Sharing a meal or a batch of cookies with those who can no longer do this for themselves or do not have the financial means.
*Donating a gift to those less fortunate.
*Sharing a smile with a stranger. You never know what that can mean to someone who is having a tough day or a Christmas alone.
The list is as endless as your LOVE.
*And of course simple acts of kindness and time just for you.
Time to take in the joy of Christmas, the joy of just being in the moment, the joy of knowing that when Christmas is about love, all the stress, all the craziness, all the worries simply fall away and it is there that you will find the greatest gift that Christmas brings, LOVE. Love for self. Love for others.
Christmas is not a time nor a season. Christmas is a state of mind, a heart filled with love.
May your gifts this year be the blessings of peace, the comfort of faith, the beauty of hope, and the spirit of LOVE.
Cheers to you and a blessed Christmas filled with much love.
Remember…..
Always Believe,
Tammie