A Different Kind of Christmas

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love to decorate the house. We have 4 trees. No joke! I love to give gifts, bake, and have friends and family over. However, sometimes, the picture we have in our head about how a holiday should be just doesn’t work out in real life.

Over the course of 30 years of marriage, we have had several holiday seasons rearranged to meet the needs of the moment. However, those times have special memories to cherish. When my son was small, he was sick on Christmas and my mother-in-law had cancer. So we could not spend Christmas together. However, the time I spent at home with just my husband and son was wonderful. I set the table nice and fixed the usual big meal for us to enjoy. We spent time opening presents and playing with toys without hurrying and ate dinner on our own schedule. Did we miss the rest of the family? Sure. However, I will always cherish that special time together.

The same tree this year. So many memories in all those ornaments.

Roll time forward quite a few years to 2014. We had just moved into a small house, I had surgery and the recovery time was taking way longer than normal. I was stressing over how to have a good Christmas because I couldn’t cook, decorate, or give the way I wanted too. As far as I was concerned, Christmas was ruined! A dear sweet friend told me that this Christmas wasn’t ruined. It was just different. Sometimes, different is good. It helps us to concentrate on what is really important as we let all the busywork go. Then she came over, picked up all my Christmas gifts, and wrapped them for me. That Christmas I didn’t worry about the Christmas cards or activities I couldn’t do. It was a time to reflect on all the blessings God had already given me.

Fast forward more to Thanksgiving a few years later, no big dinner with friends and family. Just a quiet meal, lovingly prepared by my college age daughter for her and I to enjoy alone. I wouldn’t trade that meal for a million dollars. We had time to spend one on one and the memories made will last me a lifetime.

This year is a different kind of year for many people. Every birthday, holiday, anniversary, and celebration has been affected. I encourage each of you to put aside what you can’t do and concentrate on the important things. Remember those you have lost with fondness. Cherish those around you. Show love and appreciation. Enjoy every single moment without regrets. In the future, you will look back on this year and think of all the things you learned and all the memories you have that wouldn’t have existed without the challenges that this year has held. This year has been different for sure; however, different can help us focus on what matters most.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours.