Fa La La La La Lots to Do!
I began the BIG pack today. The kind of pack that requires totes, bubblewrap, inventory lists, scales and cedar blocks. It’s time for us to make our way to the U.S. for a season and say goodbye to our Upper Egypt life. We’ve made moves like this before…some quicker than others. ***Cough***<Sudan>***Cough***. However, we’ve had time to plan this one. I’ve made beautiful lists. Lists that would bring tears to my organizationally-inclined friends’ eyes. But these lists have dates and today’s list told me to pull out totes and start putting items in them. I complied, but could not help but also think about Thanksgiving and Christmas coming.
Now everything I’m packing becomes a potential gift. Tacky? Yes. Practical? Very. I hope the girls can put a surprised look on their face when they open up their slightly-used British water filter. But I don’t want to miss out on the season just because I’m changing continents! Is that too much to ask?!
Suddenly this beautiful season of giving becomes phrases like “Black Friday,” “Cyber Monday” and “Must-Have Item of the Season.” My peaceful bliss turns to panic and stress as I think about all the people that I’d like to remember and the few dollars that I have to do it with…
Christmas evokes many emotions making me want to do everything I intended to do in the first 11 months of the year to show the people in my life how much I love them. But that makes for a lot of pressure. Nothing says, “I love you, my dear husband” like a Pepperidge Farm sausage log. (Maybe for my husband that actually WOULD work, but…) Trying to find the right gift for each person is tough. I think others struggle with this, too.
No one can come close to the deals that my mother-in-law (I prefer the term “Mother-in-Love”) can find. She can walk in with a fistful of coupons and come out with a giant bag of items for $15. I’ve seen it for myself. I’m usually not as savvy. One year, I psyched myself up to participate in the early morning shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. My sisters were visiting and we thought it would be fun to plan out our strategies. A general in the army could not have been more organized as we plotted the “first wave,” “second wave” and “final wave” of shopping. Each store had its own particular sale time when the discounts would be deepest. From 5 am-7am, a hobby store had 50% off. A major department store advertised big deals from 7-11am. Some offered all-day discounts while others took sympathy on those who were “night owls” and created sales from 10 pm -midnight. Yessireeeeeebob! We were ready.
I heard the alarm and quietly crawled out of bed as I heard my husband mutter something that sounded like, “utter insanity.” I met my sisters in the kitchen where we donned our jackets, salespapers, notebook and purses. Our first stop involved a major shot of caffeine, so we hit the drive-through. We pulled out our game plan to see which store was first. I rounded the corner and to my shock realized that 500 other people had the same brilliant idea we did. Immediately, I went into attack mode. I began barking orders. “Peggy, you have electronics.” “Paula, you’ve got toys.” “I’ll cover apparel.” “Synchronize watches? Mark. Go. Go. Go. Go.” We opened the van door and proceeded to our assigned areas like a skilled SWAT team.
People were everywhere. Merchandise was flying. Carts were rolling and salespeople were doing their best to keep order. I scanned my area and began looking for the specific items on the list. Nope. Nope. Nothing. I circled three or four times and realized that everything was gone within 30 seconds. I met my sisters at the rallying point. All three of us had nothing in our hands. NOTHING. Our battle plan did NOT include this part.
We stared at each other and decided to move on to the next store. “Regroup, people!” “Peggy, you have crafts.” “Paula, you have scrapbooking.” “I’m on Christmas decor.” We piled out and went to our zones. Peggy excitedly returned with her goods. Paula had struck gold as well. I hadn’t found my items yet so they went ahead to get in line to pay. I circled again and again becoming discouraged with each passing moment. I had a 50% coupon and I was determined to use it! Finally, I found something and made my way to the front.
My sisters began pulling out their items from the bags after we had gotten back into the van. They had done very well and had saved a lot of money. Once they finished, they asked me what I had gotten. I hesitated and slowly pulled out my purchase. Their silence said it all. Then they began laughing–very hard. I had used my 50% off coupon at 5:30 am on the day after Thanksgiving braving the mobs and check out lines. I now held in my hand a very pretty, but very small bar of soap.
Shopping continued the rest of the day, but all comments following and ensuing laughs were in regard to my “big” purchase. My husband found this one of the most amusing things he had heard in a long time. In fact, he can’t say the word “soap” without breaking into a giant, cheesy grin. Now I had lost an entire day and still had a giant list to complete. Behind me, our Christmas clock began playing “O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!” The actual lyrics should be, “Oh, December the Crazy Month, how busy can we be?”
Where is the stillness of Bethlehem in all this?
I’ve decided to start a new tradition this year. Each morning during the month of December, I pour myself a Diet Coke (or to sound more cozy a cup of tea), pull a blanket over my lap and open my Bible. Then I present Jesus with a gift. One day I give the gift of patience. I will wait patiently as His Word speaks to me and I choose to demonstrate patience to those who cross my path. On another day I will give the gift of interruption. I will allow Him to interrupt my schedule with people who need a kind word, a hug or a hot meal. Each gift purposed and practiced.
At first, I thought that this was a bit too simplistic. Afterall, isn’t that what I’m supposed to be doing every day? Yes, it is. But realistically speaking, I know myself too well. I will get caught up in my many “to-do’s” and forget that the Lord values most my “to-be’s.”
He demonstrated this when He left the splendor of Heaven to BE with us, Immanuel. The true meaning of Christmas. So if I’m to share the genuine message of this special time, maybe I should be like Jesus and be still. Be available. Be near. And just to be sure, I’ll set the bar of soap out as a gentle reminder.
7 Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress
1. Give Jesus the gift of stillness and enjoy His presence.
2. Simplify your expectations. Bake only 3 kinds of cookies rather than 6.
3. Host a potluck and take some of the pressure off from cooking.
4. The most special gifts are those that evoke emotions, not dollar amounts.
5. Call an “Emergency Eggnog Meeting” with a friend. Take 30 minutes to breathe, sip and laugh.
6. Get a proper amount of sleep.
7. Look for those around you needing encouragement. You’ll lift your spirits as well.
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