by Syd Brinkman
This blog should have been written a few weeks ago if it were to be helpful in any way. I was busy. I was shopping in stores. I was online shopping. I was decorating at home and church. I was attending the granddaughters’ Christmas programs.
I spent time with my parents who live further away now. I was busy. I am the parish administrator in the Advent season. I am a professional using my gifts for others during other times of the day.
I am quite sure this is a familiar scenario for most.
In all the busyness I’ve not baked one seasonal goodie. I’ve barely had an evening meal with my husband (our schedules don’t match most times). I have Christmas storage totes to put away so that holiday guests can see their way to the beds. I have cleaning to do. I have wrapping to begin.
No family at Christmas
I told a room full of women today that I know everyone is excited to have their family come home on Christmas Day, but frankly, I’m glad mine aren’t. That’s a change for me after 35 plus years, and I’m now okay with it.
I wasn’t a couple of years ago, but my daughter and family gave me a mixed blessing when they declared they would spend the day with her father-in-law. My daughter’s family had a special mother, mother-in-law, grandmother who passed away in the fall a couple of years ago, and so holidays would change at least for the first year.
Pity party for one
I understood completely, and I would happily comply. Christmas Day has always been our family get together day though, and I soon found out that first Christmas Day how lonely I was. I had a pity party for myself all day. I thought I would be okay, and I wasn’t. Even when my husband suggested a plan for the day, I preferred to stay home and feel sorry for myself.
Our family planned its gathering for the weekend after Christmas. The kids came home, and we had a lovely time complete with family friends and a relaxed weekend.
The plan that we get together on the weekend after Christmas stuck, and I can now fully embrace the change. It was a mixed blessing to be sure, but we have gifted each of our daughters their own Christmas-day excitement with their families, and isn’t this how traditions begin?
On Christmas Day, I will wrap the gifts and prepare for my family’s homecoming. I won’t bake that day, and no one will be surprised. We will have enough–enough memories to last a lifetime or at least into the new year!
Syd Brinkman served on the churchwide executive board from 2009-2014. Photo by Bruno Joseph from Pexels
You said “relaxed weekend.” Exactly how I feel when we get together the week after Christmas! I like it! Nice to have time for all the worship services at Christmas.
Beautiful gift you gave them Syd! Merry Christmas friend!
Thanks for reminding me that Christmas isn’t just one day, but something to be celebrated and shared all year long!