I feel as if I am in an eternal struggle to celebrate Christmas in a way that reflects how I feel about the season.
From 2010: You can read about Christmas day here. And the lead up to it with a similar commercial free post here. Our connect groups Christmas party here. And finally, decorating the In Laws Christmas tree here.
I love Christmas. Love love love it. I love the carols playing in malls since october (worship music in a mall!? Yes please!) I love the bright decorations, I love that most people get some time off and overall feel excited and relaxed, I love families coming together to celebrate, I love big cooked dinners, I love hot summer Christmas days in the sunshine with the barbeque, I love cold ham in the fridge for a week and I love mustard sauce. I love santa hats and reindeer antlers and I love a break from the routine of normal life to put up a tree, play some different music and see my family. I love extra celebrations at church, hearing the Christmas Story over and over and over again and I love giving at this time of year.
Thats what Christmas is to me and that's often what I struggle to celebrate because for many people Christmas is about the presents.
For a few weeks I worked in a mall in the lead up to the season and I was horrified. Children screamed about presents, men fretted in shops with lists their wives had given then that they had to come home with. I wanted nothing to do with that thankyouverymuch!
This experience inspired a commercial free Christmas for Graeme and myself. There's not time like the present to start new learning and traditions.
It was a success. Christmas day for me was all about Jesus and Family. We were still given a few presents by our families, but we had no expectations and no demands.
This year, we have decided to do little presents for each other. Not because we feel pressured to or that we have to but because we want to. Graeme and I have been through a lot this year and our love has grown for each other, and we are glad for an opportunity to express that. We have expectations, have given each other little lists of ideas and the gifts must be wrapped. We have also started implementing traditions that we hope will teach Camilla about the season of giving. Last year we baked and delivered goodies to all of our neighbours - this year we are throwing a carpark party (and dinner) for all of the people who live in our apartment complex (some 60+ people).
I really hope Camilla grows up and learns that this is a season for giving and connecting, and celebrating our Lords amazing history.
Oh that's a beautiful post, I love it.... really touching. Thank you. I'm not feeling the Christmas Spirit very well this year. I'm not hyped up about all the gift giving etc., but I do love celebrating the Saviours birth and that's what Christmas really means to me. I don't like all the commercialism, feel like it gets way out of hand. I know not all people believe in what Christmas is really all about ..... but all I think about is if that's not the case then why are we celebrating Christmas at all.
ReplyDeleteI love that you are doing a party for ALL your neighbours - awesome work. I hope it is a great opportunity to demonstrate love and Christ-mas in action.
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