Christmas?
It’s hard to believe it’s over. It really didn’t feel like it began. Except for the Christmas caroling Christmas Eve and the shrimp I deveined, it didn’t feel like Christmas this year. We spent Christmas alone as usually and had our fun candle light family dinner playing the Minister’s cat afterward. Then we brought gifts to our 80 year old neighbors (our favorite neighbors) and did “What God Wants for Christmas.” A new interactive manger set.
We really don’t do up Santa Claus, we never did but Grace (5) still believes. When I probed her further about what she believes she said “I believe in Santa. He’s in Heaven with Jesus.” She knows the true story of St. Nick.
Then she went on to say, “The real Santa choked and died.”
I asked her who dropped all the gifts down the chimney. (I know, not helping the kid with her confused beliefs.)
She said, “Jesus does!”
And there you have it!
Christmas morning we did our traditional retelling of Jesus’ birth, then like the wise men looking for Jesus, we had the kids find their gifts. Thankfully Chris (13) helped us hide all the gifts. I’d like to say all the kids were perfectly happy and grateful for all their gifts, but Grace (5) hardly smiled as she opened one after the other. She later told hubby “I didn’t get anything on my list.” Who knew she had a list. Everything she saw on TV she said she wanted so I went with my gut. Of course, later she enjoyed her toys. Especailly the one she did pick out. A Princess Ps2 game. She’s been playing it non-stop all day, except for when her brothers wanted to play their game!
Back to it never really feeling like Christmas. Since I’ve grown and given my life to Christ, every day I try to focus on Jesus so it rarely feels like Christmas anymore, especially without the family gatherings, dressing up and hoopla. We usually spend Christmas alone. Which isn’t bad, it’s just not festive. So far this year, we haven’t watched White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street (B&W version) or It’s a Wonderful Life yet. (Maybe that’s the trouble.) But I think the real reason is as a parent, I try hard and work my tail off to trying to make it Christmasy. I never get to sit down and rest because I’m trying too hard to make it Christmas, I just never let it be Christmas.
Maybe one day I’ll learn!
How was your Christmas?
