A Quiet Christmas

Our Christmas tree stands in the corner of the room without decoration.

I was going to post a picture of it but the camera is dead, left uncharged on the desk, also not ready for Christmas.

No twinkling lights adorn the outside of our home.

Only a handful of my favorite Christmas decorations are sprinkled about the house.

I still don't know what I'm going to fix for Christmas dinner. I'm not in the mood for ham or turkey so I decided on beef tenderloin. Until I went to the store and saw a 5lb beef tenderloin was $77. No thank you. Moving on. I'm now thinking pork or pot roast. If I don't decide then I'll pull a chicken out of the freezer.

Until yesterday morning I had not bought a single Christmas present.

And what I bought yesterday wasn't much. I didn't come home with armloads of bags. I didn't experience a shopper's high. But I also didn't experience the next day buyer's remorse.

And I find I like it this way. I think I've finally found that place in my heart. A place I've been striving toward for about 3 years now. Where Christmas is about CHRISTmas, not presents or things.

Some of this change is due to screaming tight finances. Some of it is due to taking things easy while savoring the life growing inside me. (I'll be 16 weeks on Christmas day!) And some of it is the fruition of 3 years hard work. It's not easy trying to change a lifetime of Christmas commercialism that has been wired into our brains by the media, brands and our own good fortune.

It's easy to be givers when we all "have". A large part of America have been "havers" since the 80's. It's so fun and easy to give when you have. So we did the big gifts and big parties (which there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with!) And it was fun. The problem lies in that most Americans are now teetering on the brink of being "have nots" and we suddenly feel inferior because we cannot give like we used to. Because before, the emphasis was on the giving, not praise to God for his Son and the generosity of Him giving us the ability to give at that time.

I am so thankful my family, immediate and extended, understand the true meaning of Christmas. My family is who ingrained in me, fighting against the worldly commercialized view of Christmas, that Christ is what Christmas is about. We gather together, enjoy each other's company and praise His name. In the long run on earth and eternity

The tree doesn't matter.

The pictures don't matter.

The lights and decorations don't matter.

The presents don't matter.

And as much as it pains this pregnant woman to say, what you have for Christmas dinner doesn't matter.

What matters it that you're focused on Him. Let's praise Him for what we do have, a savior for eternity and one another's company.

It's been a calm, enjoyable, quiet Christmas season here in my heart. Even with the kids running around, the pets knocking over the tree and family visiting by the truckload. I wish the same for you. May you have a quiet Christmas season in your heart. May our hearts rest in His peace this weekend.

Merry Christmas!