It is the week of Thanksgiving and our Christmas tree is up and lit and has been so for over a week. From it hangs only one ornament but others will follow soon enough. I do feel a little like I'm cheating Thanksgiving out of some of its autumn glory but last year and for many other years, our Christmas tree only saw the fleeting light of day.
Last year we were well into December, as in nearing the twenties of the month, before our tree was raised for celebration. Other forms of our usual celebration were cast aside last year as well. Our Advent celebrations which normally happen at least a few times a week during December were, all but our single advent evening, nonexistent.
Last year we declared "NEXT CHRISTMAS WILL NOT BE THIS WAY...NEXT CHRISTMAS THE SEASON WILL NOT SNEAK UP ON US...NEXT CHRISTMAS THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT!"
Friends, we have arrived at NEXT CHRISTMAS and I'm on a mission. At my mission's core is simplicity.
Simplicity for the sake of the sacred.
It will be a difficult mission because there is so much good and gallant that can be accomplished in the name of Christmas. Cookies baked together sounds great until the stress of getting them boxed and delivered puts us all at odds with one another. Christmas cards sent to everyone who ever knew of us are such a nice touch until you find yourself hurling toward the post office for the seventeenth time trying to beat the mailing deadline with 6 more cards you decided to send.
Before too long at all, the cozy Christmas home of my dreams with carols humming softly in the background becomes a cold undecorated factory with an out-of-control boss lady screaming instructions to weary laborers who secretly roll their eyes and wonder if everyone's Christmas looks like this.
"NEXT CHRISTMAS WILL NOT BE THIS WAY...NEXT CHRISTMAS THE SEASON WILL NOT SNEAK UP ON US...NEXT CHRISTMAS THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT!"
High priority this year shines on our Advent celebration, both as a family AND as members of a faith family with whom we celebrate. I have two new resources to bolster our efforts this year and I'm eager to begin.
First is Ann Voskamp's The Greatest Gift which is filled with the beauty of her writing and the glory of our Savior.
Counting the Days, Lighting the Candles by mother-daughter team Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson is a simple straight forward advent guide that is perfect for children and their adults.
So yes, our tree is up and the mantle is decorated. I am not bemoaning the approach of Christmas. I am not dreading it. I am leaning in to the preparation, the eagerness, and the wonder of it all. We've much to anticipate...let's be about the business of the Baby and His arrival because...
Another resource-filled Advent post to consider at The Art of Simple...
It is possible for you to miss it.
To brush past it, to rush through it, to not see how it comes for you up over the edges of everything, quiet and unassuming and miraculous--how every page of he Word has been writing it, reaching for you, coming for you. And you could wake on Christmas only to grasp that you never took the whole of the Gift, the wide expanse of grace.
~Ann Voskamp The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas
Another resource-filled Advent post to consider at The Art of Simple...
2 comments:
I noticed that your tree was already up a few days ago, and meant to say something.....GO YOU!! You are on the ball this year, Lady!
Out of curiosity, have you ever read Anne Voskamp's book, "One Thousand Gifts"? I've ALMOST ordered it about a thousand times now, but still haven't. You've probably convinced me to go order both of her books now! :)
Hope your holiday season is filled with much joy, love, and peace! Happy Thanksgiving, Wright Gang!
Hey Tiffany,
I have read One Thousand Gift and have given it as a gift from time to time. I LOVED it. It is worth owning, but you are more than welcome to borrow my marked up copy.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your precious family too!!
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