I’m pretty sure at some point the commercial introduction of the Christmas season will begin around the fourth of July. Thanksgiving has been overlooked for years, but now you begin to see hints of Christmas before Halloween.
Don’t get me wrong—I absolutely love the holidays.
From the twinkling lights in every neighborhood to the manger scene in the corner of the churchyard. From beautifully decorated trees to finding the perfect gifts. I look forward to it all.
But it seems Christmas keeps getting bigger without really getting better.
In fact, the larger we make the holiday season, the less satisfying it becomes. Long gone are the days of a simple Christmas being a socially acceptable idea.
A different kind of holiday…
Yet a simplified holiday was exactly what our family experienced last year. It wasn’t intentional.
In fact, I kind of enjoy the idea of a “larger than life” Christmas. But suddenly we found ourselves in the middle of a very different December.
Our family of four moved to a new area of our city around Thanksgiving. We weren’t able to find a home to purchase, so we were temporarily renting.
We struggled to fit all our belongings into the townhome we’d settled in, let alone find room for Christmas decorations. And most of our Christmas boxes were packed in storage anyway!
So, in lieu of our annual family trip to find the perfect real-live Christmas tree, my husband picked up a cheap and small stand-in from Home Depot. We added a few of our favorite ornaments and stuck it in the corner of our tiny living room.
It was a far cry from the huge and beautifully decorated tree we were accustomed too. Not to mention the house full of twinkling lights, greenery, and hand-painted Santa Clauses that always accompanied it.
I was worried our daughters would be disappointed. But just like every other year, they were thrilled with the decoration process that signaled the beginning of a season full of fun.
Letting go of all the extras…
The Christmas decorations weren’t the only tradition we down-sized. Many of the usual treats and goodies went unmade and unbaked.
Our new kitchen was tiny and cabinet space was limited. We’d only unpacked the bare necessities. All our other supplies were buried in boxes and inaccessible.
Again, I was concerned my kids would be sad about the prospect of less time in the kitchen. They’re treat enthusiasts and love playing little chefs.
But I purchased pre-made mixes and we whipped up a few things for the parties and family events we attended. They were still delicious. The girls still enjoyed helping. And the memories were still being made.
I also said goodbye to my annual Christmas card tradition. You might think I would have tons of extra time with no house to decorate or goodies to bake, but that just wasn’t the case.
With the recent move, I simply didn’t have space in our schedule to organize a family picture and put together a Christmas card. On top of that, our finances were limited and with the upcoming holiday expenses, I couldn’t justify the cost.
I’d been creating and sending Christmas cards since our first daughter was born. The thought of missing a year left me with an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Yet I knew I didn’t have the time or money to make it happen. So, I made the trade.
Letting go of the big tree and beautifully decorated home was difficult. Saying no to the process of baking multiple treats and goodies was a bit sad.
The thought of our family Christmas card missing from the usual mailboxes tugged at my heart.
But the most difficult changes that holiday season happened Christmas week.
A simple christmas on our own…
Our family of four usually spends Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve with my husband’s side of the family. They live relatively close and having always been a big group, the time and place of their celebrations are an annual tradition.
But this year was different. My father-in-law had been battling stomach cancer for several months. He’d been in and out of the hospital the entire time. Around Christmas he took a turn for the worse.
We quickly realized we’d need to take each day as it came. So, we left our Christmas plans up in the air and waited. A few days before Christmas, the family made the decision to push back the date of the usual celebration.
We hoped he would be back at home and feeling well enough to join in the festivities by that time. So, with Christmas Eve upon us and two expectant little girls, we had no plans.
A heavy heart…
We made a last-minute decision to take our daughters to a local shopping center on Christmas Eve morning to see Santa. With all the business of moving we hadn’t yet made the time for a visit to Santa’s workshop.
I expected the place to be packed, but was pleasantly surprised with a short line and little wait time. Afterwards, our girls ran out extra energy on the indoor playground. On the way out, we took pictures by a huge and beautiful Christmas tree in the shopping center square.
And on our way home we stopped by the local grocery store to pick up Christmas Eve dinner and a meal for the next day. It couldn’t compare to the delicious foods we would have shared with our extended family, but it would do.
That evening we kept our tradition of hot chocolate and conversation about that first Christmas. There was no fireplace to snuggle by, but we still enjoyed the sweet treat and time together.
Those days were filled with emotion. My father-in-law’s illness weighed heavy on my mind. I knew it might very well be our last Christmas with him. (Sadly, it turned out I was right.)
The little townhome void of the usual Christmas decor left me feeling down. I was painfully aware of the small number of holiday seasons we would experience together before our children grew up. I was afraid I wasn’t making this one all that it should be for our family.
Seeing Christmas through different eyes…
But, as I watched our daughters experience each different Christmas activity, I realized their joy was abundant. They were fully embracing the holiday season. Our simple Christmas didn’t seem to bother them one little bit.
Sure, they were slightly bummed there wasn’t a place to hang their stockings. And they briefly mentioned the small stature of our Christmas tree. Yet none of those things seemed to affect their enjoyment of their favorite season.
They had reveled in placing each ornament on that small tree. Baking a few treats was just as special as multiple kitchen sessions.
They oohed and awed like usual as we drove through new neighborhoods boasting bright and colorful light displays. And they were filled with delight as they opened presents that Christmas morning.
As I reflected on our simple Christmas, I realized I could appreciate the “Hallmark moments” of the season more without all the usual distractions.
Decorating our tree seemed more meaningful because it was the only sign of Christmas in our home. The few treats we did make were carefully crafted (not rushed through) because we didn’t have a list of other items to bake.
We were able to slow down and savor the experiences of Christmas Eve and Christmas day. There was no rushing off to another house or hurriedly throwing together a dish for a family dinner. There was just us. And the time and space to enjoy the memories being made.
The magic of Christmas was not gone from our holiday festivities. Quite the opposite.
The season had been simplified—and in turn, had made the magic shine through that much brighter.
A look back in time…
In truth, didn’t it all start with a simple kind of Christmas? That first night, so long ago, was a far cry from the holiday we celebrate today.
A stable for a home. A manger for a bed. The stars above the only twinkling lights to be found. A humble teenager and a newborn baby wrapped only in cloths.
No festive Christmas tree. No holiday lights contest. No huge, fancy dinner. No mountain of presents.
That first Christmas that forever changed the course of history was about as simple as it gets. Yet it held more magic, more promise, and more hope than any Christmas that would ever follow.
Choosing to create space to enjoy the holidays…
As Christmas approaches this year, it won’t be a repeat of the scene that played out 12 months ago. We’re in a house now and we’ll probably decorate a little more. There will be plenty of treats and we’ll spend the week with family and friends.
Yet, I haven’t lost sight of the meaning I found through our experience last Christmas.
I wasn’t able to send out a holiday card this year and I’m not going to let it bother me. We said no to a few more activities to allow our family room to breathe.
I plan to loosen up on the decorating and refuse to feel guilty about the amount of time I WON’T spend in the kitchen.
Instead, I choose to take in the moments that really matter.
The true meaning of Christmas…
The delight on the face of my daughter as she gently unwraps each ornament and we share its special story. The excitement of my youngest as she vigorously stirs a batch of cookies that probably won’t turn out just right.
The joy in picking out gifts for the extended family that we’re blessed to still have with us. The beauty of millions of lights sparkling throughout the city. The peace of a manger scene blanketed in snow.
The magic of Christmas hides within the simple.
It’s easy to lose sight of that in the larger than life version of Christmas created by our culture. But the joy and hope of the holiday season can be found by looking back in time to the night that started it all.
A girl in a stable. A baby in a manger.
A simple Christmas that changed the world.
May all our Christmas seasons reflect that same kind of wonder.
Christmas is a magical time of year–full of joy, hope, and memories being made. But it can also be stressful and chaotic. How does your family rise above the many distractions and focus on the beauty of Christmas? Please share in the comments below!
Simply lovely writing, Stacy!! Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much Jill!! Merry Christmas to you too!