I love to prep for Christmas. I usually begin toward the end of October into early November. If all things go according to plan, I’m done wrapping presents by Advent, and everything is ready to go (at the latest) on December 1st.
But things don’t always go according to plan, do they? I really thought I was on track to achieve my personal Christmas prep goals. But then, a gift I preordered for my son that was to be delivered on December 1st got delayed (pray it actually ships tomorrow – the 23rd – like it said it would). But then, our oven (after months of acting up) officially stopped working. But then, I realized we didn’t have teacher gifts bought. But then, I decided we should buy gifts for a child on the Angel Tree at Church.
So after a few pivots – as in printing off a picture of said delayed gift and wrapping it, paying $300 to get the oven fixed so I could make Christmas cookies for the neighbors, buying 4 teacher gift cards, and picking out gifts for the child off the Angel Tree… I was done! The “problem” was that I wasn’t done until December 14th! A whole two weeks late! 11 days before Christmas!!! I had failed.
Now, I know some people are just starting around December 14th. Maybe you are reading this with gifts waiting to be wrapped or on their way to your house on an Amazon truck. Maybe to you, I sound ridiculous. And truly, to myself, I sound ridiculous.
I am always striving to stress the importance of the true meaning of Christmas to my kids. It’s not about the gifts (but please say thank you for them). It’s not about the parties (but yes they are so much fun). So why did I allow myself to feel like I had failed simply because I didn’t meet my own expectations?
I know as a mom, we are often the ones creating so much of the “magic” this time of year. Sometimes that magic is simply getting everyone to all of the things on time – with all of the appropriate themed clothing and gifts and on and on. Maintaining not just my own calendar, but the calendars of my kids… whew. That’s enough to overwhelm anyone. There’s a lot to remember, to accomplish, to check off… to… I don’t know. There’s just a lot.
Something I’m trying to keep in mind, however, is that I’m not a mother on the back of a donkey looking for a place to give birth to my son – who just so happens to be the Messiah. I’m not the mother of a son who will have to immediately hide simply because he is born. I’m not the mother creating the reason we have Christmas. I’m simply a mother trying to create memories and remind my kids constantly the true meaning of Christmas.
How blessed are we that Mary said yes. How blessed am I to be tasked with creating memories for my children for this (truly) most wonderful time of the year. Everything is set and ready. Now all that’s left to do is await the birth of Jesus. So as I force myself to enter into the mindset of getting on the back of the donkey with Mary, desperate for someplace to welcome her son, how silly of me to worry about my “failure”. Jesus is coming, no matter when the gifts get wrapped or cookies get made. Here’s to preparing room for him in our hearts, and being thankful for Mary’s yes.
