Making Christmas "Something More"

Christmas threw up all over my living room! Yesterday we set up our Christmas tree. It's very slim and came adorned only with branches and some white lights. I was thinking I'd leave it like that for a while, but was thwarted by the exuberance of my (cute) 6 year old daughter. She helped me fluff the branches on our artificial tree and then excitedly ran off. I thought she was done helping. Wrong! She quickly returned with several of our Christmas tubs and proceeded to unpack them, in the hopes of locating some ornaments to decorate the tree with. She did this completely on her own initiative, lugging bins all the way from the garage to the living room while even climbing a flight of stairs with them. How did I not notice she had that kind of energy and drive? And how do you tell your (cute) little daughter to stop putting ugly, homemade by the kids, family heirloom Christmas ornaments on the tree? I didn't really have a choice. 

So now my house is cluttered up with bins of Christmas stuff, 3 stuffed reindeer dressed in their holiday finest along with 1 teddy bear in like manner, Christmas stocking caps, Christmas dishes, a singing, piano-playing Santa, nativity sets, Chrysanthemums, and that red beaded string of garland-like stuff that the kids enjoy hanging on the rail, even though it falls off whenever anyone walks by. Whew!

I really want to simplify our Christmas decorations and keep the house looking simple, in a natural-looking kind of way. When I expressed these sentiments to my husband, he accused me of being a Scrooge. I've never really been a huge fan of decorating anything, but I've never thought of myself as a Christmas-hater either. So I've been reflecting and considering a lot the question "Am I a Scrooge?" And I don't really think so. I don't think you have to decorate your house with stuffed reindeer, and a piano-playing Santa Claus and homemade-by-your-children Christmas ornaments to have Christmas spirit.

I'm reminded of the conclusion the Grinch came to at the end of the book after he had packed up Christmas and it still came, even without all the stuff.

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

At church this month, we've been doing a focus on "Let the Savior's Atonement Carry You" and I think that is also contributing to my change in perspective. My living room lately has been my haven and my retreat. It's the comfortable place I go to ponder, to reflect, to read, and to write (and blog). It is decorated simply, but it's comfortable and relaxing to me. There's a picture of Christ on the wall-- The Good Shepherd-- the one that was painted by Simon Dewey with the 23rd Psalm in mind, that depicts Christ holding a shepherd's staff.  Can you guess where we placed the gaudy Christmas tree? Yes, it is standing directly in front of this picture of Christ. The irony of this is not lost on me. I am remembering the birth of Christ, by standing a tree (which has zero religious significance to me) up in my living room, in front of an actual picture of Christ. On the "bright" side, there's a star on top of our tree. I like angels too, but I like the symbolism of the new star and of light itself.

So what can we do to let our light shine this month, if we don't want to put up with all the clutter of decorating our houses with actual Christmas lights and decorations? I think Christmas is a state of mind and a way of living that causes you to think outside of your circle and your family's wish lists, and the decorations, and the menu, and the stockings, and the holiday parties, and the _______ , and the _______, (fill in the blank with everything else we moms get overwhelmed with at this time of year), and the having to do-it-all perfectly. I think we need to let some of this stuff go and focus on what really matters at this time of year.

To me, Christmas means a little bit more when you can:

• Take time to really think about what you're celebrating
• Give generously to other families who are in need
• Read the story of Christ's birth in the Bible or read anything in the scriptures
• Teach your children something new about sharing and giving
• Be a little more aware of and kind to those around you, including the strangers at the store
• Be a little more unified with the 83% of Americans who are also celebrating Christmas, and interested in learning more about those who are celebrating something else, even if it's Festivus or nothing at all.

Here's a video showing what I celebrate at Christmas: He is the Gift or #SharetheGift

May your Christmas be merry and bright!

Love Barb