@bethvogt
Like it or not, the holidays are coming in the midst of a pandemic.
I don’t know anyone who likes it.
I also acknowledge each of us honor different holiday traditions: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa. Some of us may have even broken away from our original family customs. And in the midst of all of this, there may be other things we celebrate, like birthdays or anniversaries. My youngest daughter was born on Christmas Eve and we’ve always had fun celebrating her holiday birthday.
But there’s no ignoring the reality of COVID-19.
Despite our fervent hopes and prayers, the pandemic is creeping around, like an unwelcome Mr. Grinch – “… a monster … a foul one …”
We load the holidays up with so many expectations, as well as a lot of lights and tinsel and special music and food. It’s as if all our bedraggled hopes and dreams will be fixed by this one month. The hustle and bustle, set against our childhood memories and our favorite Christmas movies – a blend of classic black-and-white with a healthy scoop of Hallmark – and scurrying to buy the perfect presents.
How do we balance the reality of life right now with all we really want?
- We speak our expectations out loud – and we accept that they won’t all be met. We shouldn’t be surprised, right? When have all our expectations ever been met? White Christmases don’t happen every year. We’re not always home for the holidays. But just because life isn’t perfect doesn’t mean it can’t be good. Each day, we can look past the imperfections for the good. Maybe even write down one good thing we’re thankful for. Gratitude changes our perspective.
- We rise above the changes demanded of us to create something new. There’s no denying life looks different than a year ago. We need to sift through the struggles and determine to create something positive. Maybe this is the year we start a family Christmas letter – or resurrect one – as a way to connect with loved ones. Maybe we buy silly pajamas for everyone in the family – or just for ourselves – just because.
- We hold onto treasured family traditions in spite of all the changes in the past year. As I wrote this blog post, my son-in-love, Nate, and daughters, Amy and Christa, discussed how Christmas would be different this year. How we would be separated from one another. And then Amy said, “But we can still caravan around as families and look at Christmas lights.” And suddenly, there were smiles on our faces … and laughter in the room as we remembered how, despite our best efforts, we always get separated during our annual drive around town.
In the midst of a less-than-perfect holiday season – has there ever been a perfect one? – I’m choosing hope, the most beautiful gift of the season.
Choosing to Balance Our Expectations with Reality During the Holidays https://bit.ly/37thJZh #perspective #expectations Click To Tweet 'Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.' Quote by @BrandSanderson https://bit.ly/37thJZh #expectations #perspective Click To Tweet
Comments 8
I love the quote and you’ve done some really great writing here. I especially love the paragraph, “We speak our expectations out loud…” Praying for your and all families everywhere to find a new deeper reality of Christmas or whichever holiday they celebrate and a healthier saner coming year.
Author
Dee: Years ago I trudged through a painful Christmas … and Christmas still came, despite the pain in my heart. And that’s when I realized the truest meaning of Christmas. How God steps into this world with the promise, “I have so much more for you than this.” Hope incarnate.
This Christmas may not be too sweet
like the ones of long ago,
for I hear their marching feet,
and Deguello’s on the radio.
There is really no escape,
and perhaps there never was,
and heard above each jibe and jape,
fate’s sharpening her claws
for the leap o’er the wall
that will come at first light,
when all the good guys have to fall
and monsters conquer Right,
and I will meet that death alone
my very private San Antone.
The Deguello is a Spanish bugle call, adopted from the Moors, which means, literally, ‘to cut the throat’; it was famously played outside the walls of the Alamo by Santa Ana’s bugler, and pretty well describes what this holiday’s looking like for me.
Author
Andrew, my friend: I continue to pray for you. You walk a road few of us can comprehend. And you walk it with faith and courage.
sometimes, we need to decide if they’re traditions or habits. if they don’t make you happy or cause stress, is it something you can live without? is it time to let it go–let go and let God take over?
Author
Such excellent questions, Denise. My husband and I decided that, yes, we want to decorate for Christmas — but we’re not going to go all out this year. We’ll go with the “less is more” mantra and decorate deliberately. And that way we will have less cleanup in the new year.
I’ve been doing the same.
Author
Denise: I pray hope abounds for you, friend.