Changing my perspective on Christmas
It is officially the Christmas season!
Thanksgiving is over, the turkey has been eaten, the leftovers are even gone. My son brought all the boxes of stuff up from the basement Saturday. He pulled out the tree, the ornaments, the lights and the standalone decorations as well. My wooden snowmen, my stuffed Santas, my functional nutcrackers, and my nativity scene all are now adorning the living room.
Not satisfied to just trim the tree, he strung lights all over the place. The entertainment stand cannot be opened because the lights are wrapped around the door knobs, the mantle is brightly lit and the television is festively decorated as well.
There was a time when I would have felt the need to take control over how the decorations looked. The tinsel would have had to be hung just so, the lights would have needed to be perfectly spaced on the tree, and everything had to be in its particular place.
Not so much anymore though. I have changed my perspective on Christmas. I am far more comfortable now with watching the joy and excitement on my son’s face has he decorates. I love listening to the kids bickering and laughing over how to frost the sugar cookies.
I love all of the furtive sneaking up the steps with packages that will be hidden until Christmas morning. Even the calls I received at work, where my kids helpfully – and completely selflessly, I’m sure – offer to open what the UPS man has brought. That means more to me then whether or not the stockings are hung in the correct order.
My husband and I typically don’t exchange gifts anymore, either. We have decided that we have more than enough and, rather than attempting to buy the perfect gift for one another, we focus on enjoying the day and the excitement for our kids. Sometimes, we buy one or two “necessities” for each other, but we generally don’t wrap them.
The only thing better than seeing how happy the kids are on Christmas morning is knowing that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of the Christ child. That God loved man enough to send Jesus to earth as a man is incredible and awe-inspiring. Jesus was tempted and tortured, knew pain, knew suffering, knew loss. And all while having done nothing to deserve it. That gift cannot be topped, no matter how fancy the wrapping paper.
This year, consider doing something selfless for others as a response of gratitude for the gift Christ gave all of us. Serve a meal at a homeless shelter, buy a gift for an angel tree recipient, pay for a stranger’s coffee, or throw money into the kettle of the Salvation Army. Any gifts we give without expectation of receiving something in return, I have found, lift your spirits more than any other gifts could.
Remember that kindness is free and it means so much to the person who receives it.