Christmas Greetings From My House To Yours

Once again, Christmas is here. For the majority of us, the gifts have been wrapped and lay teasingly beneath the beautifully decorated tree that has been up for weeks. Radios have been tuned to Christmas carols. Wreaths adorn the doors of the house. Sappy holiday movies stream 24/7 on the television.

Some of us have been procrastinating for various reasons. Others are running late because of unexpected delays. The eve of Christmas Eve is here. Crunch time.

At My House The Tree Is Up

Here at my house, the tree has been up for a couple weeks. Dan, who traditionally has been the Scrooge who didn’t care if we even had a tree, had ours up the week after Thanksgiving. To be fair, there isn’t much involved in putting up our tree. It’s a small tabletop tree that we simply cover with a plastic bag at the end of the holiday season, and then store upstairs.

Baking cookies is usually my special joy for Christmas, but the last couple of years it’s been physically taxing for me. It’s difficult to mix up cookie dough sitting down, and hard for me to remain standing and blend in the ingredients. It can be done in increments, but the very idea of having to break it up zaps the desire to even start. This year, Dan mixed up the first batter of cookie dough for us and I helped him with the baking. It gave me the energy to want to make the second batch on my own. He helped me bake those.

This was threatening to be a bleak Christmas for us. To say finances are tight would be to understate the facts. Yet, it wouldn’t be the first Christmas when we have had to save every penny and choose priorities over pleasures.  

Heaven-Sent Helpers

Thanks to some unknown angels, spurred on I can assume by close friends who have chosen to remain anonymous, there have been random unexpected surprises in my mail. Just today there was a holiday card with a gift card within. There was no return address to thank the sender. Those little surprises brought joy to my heart and tears to my eyes, and smiles at my house.  

These wonderful people have helped in so many ways to give me enough energy to keep going and feel the holiday spirit. I’ve switched the radio in the kitchen (which runs non-stop at this house) to a local channel playing continuous holiday songs. I sing. Dan sings. And when we sing, the dogs sing along with us. All you have to say in my house is, “Merry Christmas” and the dogs begin to howl along with us.

We’ve still had a few rough moments. I’m working with my siblings on helping my aging mother find ways to make life easier for her. This has included meetings and discussions which have been emotionally difficult and trying. Dan fell and bumped his head, and vertigo came from the resulting concussion. He’s had to sit back and relax. Laying low is not something he does well.  My best friend has been in the hospital with some complications.  But, these haven’t dampened our spirit.

Eve of Christmas Eve

Tonight is the eve of Christmas Eve. For Wisconsin, the weather is uncommonly warm. You might think we are in the middle of our January thaw at the end of December. Walking outside at night is a quiet pleasure. The holiday spirit hangs in the air. It’s just a different feeling.

As a Christian, I feel the expectation of the Christmas miracle. For me, I think that is much of the Christmas feeling in the air. It’s mysterious and comforting at once. It’s peace you can feel.

There are many things I wish I could have done differently for Christmas. A room full of gifts for all my loved ones would have filled me with joy. Six canisters filled with various types of cookies sitting on the counter as I have done in the past would have brought me pleasure. Being able to send greetings of love to our friends in cards would have been wonderful.

But, I’m still happy. Christmas is about love and giving and joy and peace. I could focus on all the things I don’t have, and may not ever be able to have. Or I can be grateful for the love that has been sent my way.

Reach Out.  You Are Not Alone

For those who are struggling this holiday season, know that you aren’t alone. It’s OK if you didn’t get a tree or gifts. Those do not make Christmas. Your spirit does. Find that light deep in your heart that you don’t believe is there and draw from that. Use it to find another person who needs their candle lit again and share yours.

If you really can’t find that spark inside of you yet, reach out for help. There are people waiting for your call, your text or your email. Tell someone you are struggling and feeling alone.

I care. Email me. shell@thewriteempath.com. I’ll listen and send love and hugs to you, whoever you are. The secret of Christmas is love.

Merry Christmas to you all