The Season of Peace and Joy?

The Christmas season can be "the best of times and the worst of times" for me depending on how much I attempt to do. A few years ago I realized a lot of my joy in the season was being robbed by exhaustion and I sat down with my family to talk it out. At the time I was buying or making gifts for my children, their spouses, each grandchild, my father and step mom, mother in law, sister (and her family of three children), brothers (and niece and nephew) - 36 people the last year I did it! We were also having a big Christmas dinner w/ turkey, dressing, etc. and I was also usually hosting at least two and sometime three Christmas parties a year including a cookie exchange and one large adult event. The kids were usually in a Christmas production of some sort that included multiple rehearsals and my chauffeuring skills. What on earth was I thinking! it was crazy!

The first thing we did was pare down the gift list. Each unmarried child gets presents, each grandchild gets a pair of pjs and each married child gets a family gift. One year we gave everyone an ice cream maker and last year it was waffle makers. We also talked to our extended families about gifts and cut down significantly.

At the same time we decided that our very favorite meal (Except for the vegetarians among us) is steak, roasted veggies, a great salad and a wonderful dessert (cheesecake most years) so that's what we have for Christmas dinner now. On Christmas Eve we have a party w/ whoever is in town with all kinds of party finger food and punch - almost all of which can easily be made ahead and warmed up.

This year I have three Christmas events on the calendar - only one at my house. Maybe some day I will be back at the place of having multiple gatherings, but right now I'm content w/ my simplified season. I have noticed that although days are always full, they are not too full to enjoy the sights, sounds and moments of Christmas. Best of all there is time to experience the awe of contemplating Christ born to us - fully God come down to dwell with us as fully man. Part of this contemplation is reaffirming that my worth to God and those in my life is not dependent on what I do, how much I do and how well I do it, but rather it is in the fact that God loved me first and there is nothing I can do that earns His love. It is His gift to me. The best part of Christmas.