All of the glorified hype leading up to the big day, and then BOOM! It's over now.
Not only do you have that to deal with, but even the stresses leading up to the big day, only to get the other let down boom.
Have we set our expectations too high? Have we expected too much from others? Have we forgotten the true meaning of the Christmas season? Have we done our part in serving others? Are others expecting to much of you?
I believe that in this day and age, the answer to my questions are mostly yes.
Being a mom at Christmas time can be the most exciting time of the year, and also the most stressful time of year. Add two jobs to that ( paying ones ), kids homework, house work, laundry, dishes, cooking, dance lessons, grocery and Christmas shopping, and well, exhausted isn't even a good enough word.
Don't get me wrong, I find so much joy in shopping, and in being a mom, but with it, comes less sleep, skipped meals, and more errands and responsibilities piled onto my already filled plate. Can you relate? But service, that is where the joy kicks in........
Our family has chosen every year ( since we married in 1999) to serve others in a way that we are able. Whether it be our time, our effort or our money, we have made it happen every year.
Our first year married we chose a homeless shelter project. We bought and wrapped toys for the children, put together personal hygiene kits for the adults, and even collected blankets and coats to drop off. It doesn't seem or sound like much, but this tiny project was the one that started it all. This lit the fire for us and set the example that we wanted to lead our life in. Serving others.
Years to follow, angel trees, sub for Santa, making cards and delivering at rest homes, and donating money to the nice guys ringing bells. Having our kids pick a child from a charity and having them shop for the kids. All the while, a lot of these years, we didn't even know if we could afford a Christmas of our own.
I am here to tell you, in the flesh, that even when you are down to your last dime, if you are serving others, the good Lord above will make it happen. Some sort of magic, and all of the sudden, you DID IT! Having faith that his direction will lead you to the end, is something you must have!
The year the construction market hit it's drop, and Joe was out of work, asking, begging for work anywhere, working at a machine shop for a relative for maybe $10.00 and hour, we managed to buy our two kids Christmas, and three other families. Now, none of us received the perfect, expensive, Christmas, but each kid had not been forgotten and did not go without. I know for a fact that all four of our families, will never forget that Christmas. This is what Christmas is about. I think with all of the stress leading up, the expectations that have been set, and the glorification, we sometimes forget.
Today, I will stay in my jammies most the day, to just rest. I will play with my kids, get a closet cleaned out (maybe), or just maybe I will venture out and hit sale. Either way, it is my day to do what I choose, since all of the Christmas expectations are gone...... just not forgotten. lol!
I hope everyone had a safe, and magical holiday season. I hope most of you found a way to serve others, whether you feel it was little or big, remember that each act of kindness supported with lobve, counts more than you can ever know.
Jen
