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Published On: Mar 17, 2007 02:40 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Mar 17, 2007 02:40 PM
Christmas Burn-Out
There are certain things that I love and hate
about this time of the year. I certainly love Christmas songs (in fact I will
admit to singing them year round). Nothing puts a smile on my face like singing
"Silent NIght", "Greensleeves" or "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" to name a few.
However, what I really hate is the stress.
Instrumental Greensleeves
Have I bought the Christmas Tree? Have I decorated the Christmas Tree? Have I decorated our home with Christmas lights? Have I mailed out the Christmas cards yet? Have I bought gifts for all of the relatives (including my husband's relatives who he always forgets to buy for)? Have I made an obligatory batch of Christmas cookies? Has the gingerbread house been decorated yet? Have I compiled the annual "Hancock" family Christmas CD for handing out? Aaaacccckkk!!! Help! (Did I also mention that I work full-time as well! But, I have the same tasks ahead of me that was expected of a wife from the 1950's who didn't work outside of the home.) And then there are all of the annual Christmas events that seem to multiply faster than rabbits in the Spring. Here in Davis we have three separate Nutcracker plays showing this season (with my daughter starring in one of them!). Then there are the unexpected things, like my daughter's school "Holiday" play and numerous church events.
In 2003 I was so stressed about Christmas that I actually ended up with chest pains. (I found out from my doctor that my heart was fine and that women tend to carry their stress in their chests--hence the heart pain.)
So this year (and the other year's following 2003) I have started to step back. I certainly have a full calendar this 2006 season, but I am trying to not schedule every single moment of the weeks and weekends with Christmas activities. I have said no so far to a Christmas cookie exchange and an Advent Wreath Making event at Church. I can only do so much. I am sure that I will be cutting out more events as the holiday progresses.
I think the answer to all of this is to simply draw Christmas out over a month if not two months. I think the Jewish faith has it right with the 7 days of Hanukkah. They take their time and visit different relatives over the 7 days. (Whereas we have to pack it all in on one day. And then there is the immense guilt associated with "not" visiting one set of relatives on Christmas day.) They also limit things to only 7 gifts per person. Boy, I would like it if I could limit my daughter's gifts to only 7!
And wouldn't it be better to stretch it out over the entire year? According to the bible--shepards were woken from tending their flock with Jesus was born, that means Jesus' birth was probably during the Spring--not during the cold and dark winter months.
Oh well, I will try my best to keep the commercial "Christmas" from letting me get in touch with the real "Christmas". Christmas is about Jesus being born and the light and hope that he brought the world. Like all newborn babes there is always so much promise in their little smiles and coos. May I help to remember the real reason why I am celebrating this Christmas season and I hope that I don't loose touch with the happiness and promise that was born over 2000 years ago.
Merry Christmas! God Bless and Amen!
Instrumental Greensleeves
Have I bought the Christmas Tree? Have I decorated the Christmas Tree? Have I decorated our home with Christmas lights? Have I mailed out the Christmas cards yet? Have I bought gifts for all of the relatives (including my husband's relatives who he always forgets to buy for)? Have I made an obligatory batch of Christmas cookies? Has the gingerbread house been decorated yet? Have I compiled the annual "Hancock" family Christmas CD for handing out? Aaaacccckkk!!! Help! (Did I also mention that I work full-time as well! But, I have the same tasks ahead of me that was expected of a wife from the 1950's who didn't work outside of the home.) And then there are all of the annual Christmas events that seem to multiply faster than rabbits in the Spring. Here in Davis we have three separate Nutcracker plays showing this season (with my daughter starring in one of them!). Then there are the unexpected things, like my daughter's school "Holiday" play and numerous church events.
In 2003 I was so stressed about Christmas that I actually ended up with chest pains. (I found out from my doctor that my heart was fine and that women tend to carry their stress in their chests--hence the heart pain.)
So this year (and the other year's following 2003) I have started to step back. I certainly have a full calendar this 2006 season, but I am trying to not schedule every single moment of the weeks and weekends with Christmas activities. I have said no so far to a Christmas cookie exchange and an Advent Wreath Making event at Church. I can only do so much. I am sure that I will be cutting out more events as the holiday progresses.
I think the answer to all of this is to simply draw Christmas out over a month if not two months. I think the Jewish faith has it right with the 7 days of Hanukkah. They take their time and visit different relatives over the 7 days. (Whereas we have to pack it all in on one day. And then there is the immense guilt associated with "not" visiting one set of relatives on Christmas day.) They also limit things to only 7 gifts per person. Boy, I would like it if I could limit my daughter's gifts to only 7!
And wouldn't it be better to stretch it out over the entire year? According to the bible--shepards were woken from tending their flock with Jesus was born, that means Jesus' birth was probably during the Spring--not during the cold and dark winter months.
Oh well, I will try my best to keep the commercial "Christmas" from letting me get in touch with the real "Christmas". Christmas is about Jesus being born and the light and hope that he brought the world. Like all newborn babes there is always so much promise in their little smiles and coos. May I help to remember the real reason why I am celebrating this Christmas season and I hope that I don't loose touch with the happiness and promise that was born over 2000 years ago.
Merry Christmas! God Bless and Amen!
Posted: Mon - December 4, 2006 at 01:11 PM