Around this time of year I like to do a little check in with myself to see how I am feeling about the upcoming holiday season. I have found that the influencer crowd is very much over the top when it comes to being “ready” for Christmas and there is only setting - full on excitement and joy. It’s like a competition on who can be the MOST EXCITED! When one doesn’t feel the same way, that can cause an unsettled feeling that often leads to being more depressed than you’re actually feeling. When you aren’t quite at the same level as the people you see on the internet, you ask “Why not me? What’s wrong with me?”. Some years I have not felt very excited about Christmas for various reasons, knowing that family wasn’t able to get together like in those pandemic years, when things I was looking forward to were cancelled, when holiday traditions were being replaced with different things, or if the weather was too warm and didn’t feel Christmas-y. I may have been sad, disappointed, annoyed, or just neutral on the whole thing. What I have learned over the years is that any of those feelings were fine, as long as I was aware of what they were, and determined not to dwell in any one mood for too long. I am always a proponent of accepting where you are at any given time, finding contentment in the situation, and not trying to make something into something it’s not. Each year will be different in its own way, and isn’t that a blessing!
This year I am excited about the events and special days to come. I started listening to some Christmas music during the first week of November, a little earlier than normal. We have watched a few movies, and I am actively planning our Christmas party. Some years it seems like a trial, but I am looking forward to the prep, but mostly to welcome our friends and neighbours to our home.
As the kids get older, it means we have forgone certain things, like visiting Santa at the mall (don’t worry, we will still see him at the golf club brunch!), but it’s fun to see what still sticks around as things they like to do. Q wants to do gingerbread houses again this year, and E simply asked for Christmas gum drops. I remember when I was in university, we would often sit around in the cafeteria talking about different things, and one favourite topic was to share how our families celebrated Christmas. I’m sure the things that I remembered mostly only really happened one or two years and were probably not something my mom even did deliberately. I always wonder what our kids will remember in years to come. Despite our best efforts to make everything so special, their main memories will likely be of some inconsequential item that wasn’t even planned. Or maybe it will be something like “my mom always did ____” even though I don’t think they are even noticing now.
Something that does stress me out is buying gifts and also telling people what to buy for us. But this year I have a few ideas (and I’ll share them later in the week) and I know that are real big gift is our March Break ski trip (details on that to follow) and so I won’t feel the same pressure to spend money as I usually do.
And as our minister said in church yesterday, God is a constant throughout all of these changing seasons, He is always there for us. Isn’t that the best comfort of all? As we move into the season of Advent, I will hold that sentiment close. We, the church choir, are going to sing “Where the Light Begins” on Advent 1 and isn’t that just the most fitting title?
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