Christmas has got to be one of my favorite holidays. I love the decorations, the smells, the tastes, the excitement, the wonder...I could go on and on. I love remembering the birth of Christ and taking an entire season to focus on it.
I think I can safely call myself a frustrated perfectionist. In my minds eye I can see things as they should be, a beautiful table set for a perfect feast, a house tastefully decorated to be admired by all who see it. I get so wrapped up in all of these wonderful things that I become frustrated when they aren't exactly as I see them and I can't make them measure up to my own standards. The other day I was thinking these thoughts and chided myself for my ungrateful spirit and prayed for the grace to overcome this "funk".
I am reading a wonderful book, for the third time, called "Treasuring God in our Traditions". I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's not just a book for Christmas but for all year. She calls us to have a purpose for the things we do, the purpose is to point others to Christ. I am so excited for Morgan understand the time of advent and to understand the reason we can celebrate Christmas. I am thankful that she is young enough not to recognize my utter failure this year. No matter what else, I have a Savior that came to earth as a fragile baby. As a mother, I cannot imagine the emotions that Mary must have felt knowing what her precious Son would endure, for my sin.
I share this because I am sure that someone is in the same boat I am...passing every store that shouts at us what we need for the perfect season. I am purposing to refocus my thoughts to the blessing and joy that is mine because of the precious gift of Jesus.
