Yes, it sounds like a popular dance from the 1970’s. Yes, it sounds fun and exciting. Yes, if we aren’t careful, it can totally take over our lives for the next 30 days and we will completely miss what this season can and should be.
I took a few days off from writing this week to relax and ‘just be’ with my extended family. It was glorious. After all of the travel and preparations and the togetherness fostered by the celebration of Thanksgiving, I was on a natural high. I had successfully cooked two kinds of pumpkin pies for the first time and my girls were actually getting along. I didn’t win at the family card game, but I played. I even finished a book I’ve been wanting to read. Thanksgiving evening we carved out some time to watch the “real people” version of the Grinch as my girls call it – the one with Jim Carrey. That was when it hit me. BAM!
We were about to trade in all the together time and warm, fuzzy feelings we had been accumulating for a time of crazy commercialism. I was struck by the contrast in the two stories I was watching unfold on TV. One, a classic tale of the meaning of Christmas complete with moral lessons about how to treat people who are different from us and the innocence of children. The other, a barrage of commercials for Black Friday deals and reminders that you don’t want to be the only person not participating in the mad dash to get all the best toys and treasures at all the best prices – for a limited time only. The juxtaposition of the two was striking. As I tried to wrap my head around what would be unfolding in the next four weeks, I found myself overwhelmed, as I’m sure many of you do, too, this time of year.
After finishing the movie and tucking the girls into bed at the grandparents’ house, I lie awake for more than an hour thinking of all of the upcoming events – school parties, work parties, Christmas pageants, holiday recitals, Nutcracker performances, etc. All of these are wonderful in their own right, but if we aren’t careful, the holiday hustle can take over and steal our joy. The scheduling and chaos can turn each of us into our own versions of the Grinch. I see it in my life, and I’m sure you see it in yours. I get so caught up in where we need to be and when and who we need to see and how many cards to order and address, that I forget to take time to ‘just be’ with my family. I forget to just love them and be with them and share in their joy.
I don’t know exactly how to force the slow down this time of year. There are legitimate things that have to get done in a timely fashion. I am, however, going to make a concerted effort this year to not let the holiday hustle steal me away from my family, not to let it drain me of the joy of the season. I can start by committing to reading an Advent devotional each night with my family, a sort of refocusing time. (If you are not in a Christian home, then perhaps choose a reading more appropriate to your religion. If you aren’t in a religious home at all, then I encourage you to try an Advent reading. There are many great ones available online and for free.) I’m sure I’ll find some other ways to combat the holiday hustle this season. I’m sure some will fail miserably, but hopefully enough will succeed that my children will see me and feel me present with them over the next several weeks. I’d love to hear your ideas about how you deal with the busy-ness that takes over this time of year. There is so much to celebrate and delight in leading up to Christmas. My hope for you is that you take time to do just that – celebrate and delight in the joy of the season and don’t succumb to the holiday hustle.