Decorating for Christmas comes earlier and earlier, it seems. Honestly, given the tensions simmering this election season, I think it makes sense. I say, if it brings you joy, decorate however you want, whenever you want. As I considered our own holiday calendar today, I remembered a day several years ago when we gathered to decorate for Christmas. Our girls were teens and all under one roof (*sniffle). It was a day of both mess and magic. I offer my thoughts from that day in hopes that it will encourage you. Before you gather with your loved ones this year, remind yourself that sometimes the most magical moments get their glimmer because of the mess.
We pulled out the handmade ornaments, the gift ornaments that each tell a story of the year they were given. We unpacked the nativity sets and Christmas village and tried (unsuccessfully) to NOT break more than one plate in the process. We put on carols and ate leftovers. And somewhere amidst the hall-decking and fa la lalaing we hit a wall. You know, the one where expectations collide and things get moody and no one really knows why or how it started? Yes, it happens here folks. I fully admit that, for a brief moment, I wanted to go shut myself in my room and call it good. Instead, after an internal pep-talk ("you're the grown up" and "you can do hard things") and a prayer ("help!"), we pressed on.
We sat down, took a breath, and started asking questions. We listened to each other and it was awkward and “un-Christmasy” at first and for a second I wanted to try to just go back to the weirdly tense tree-trimming. But, we stuck it out. I watched our girls care for each other in such a grown-up, lovely way. I felt a little in awe of their becoming, grateful for the wrestling that strengthened their bonds.
I share this mainly because I think we carry so many hopes into this season. We want so much light and merry for our people that sometimes the effort is exhausting. Sometimes it flat out fails. And then sometimes it’s magic and leaves you breathless and grateful. I’m okay that the memory of this year’s tree decorating is wet with tears.
Enjoy the magic, take a deep breath in the difficult, and remember there is beauty and grace in the sticking-to-it, in the listening and the struggling. And sometimes the BEST result is the laughter ‘round a half-lit, wonky tree.
