When I was growing up, Christmas was a BIG deal. I started to get in the Christmas spirit as soon as our tree was up, which always the exact day after Thanksgiving. We (Mom, Dad, and Sister) would set aside a whole day of hot chocolates and Christmas movies to decorate the showpiece of our house. Let me tell you, this tree was extravagant. But do you know why?
It's not because we spent $12 PER ornament. It isn't because we had a huge top hat, or exploding fillers, or crazy snowmen that topped it. It wasn't 15 feet tall. But I can assure you, our tree was beautiful. It was covered in homemade ornaments from me and my sister, a few of the solid colors from WalMart, and trinkets that represented OUR family. And after we finished, we didn't even post it on Facebook.
We didn't have a color code or a theme, and Hallmark probably would've laughed in our faces. But I wouldn't trade being under THAT roof with THAT tree for any Hallmark commercial in the world.
My timelines have been flooded with extravagant Christmas decorations, mantles that are filled with stockings and arrangements. These trees have no personality, everything just conformed to the way that HGTV tells us our houses are supposed to look for the holidays.
Society takes every chance that it can to tell us that we aren't good enough. Models show us that our bodies aren't good enough. Commercials show that our material things aren't good enough. Clothing stores tell us that our clothes aren't good enough. And now they are trying to tell us that the way we celebrate Christmas isn't good enough?
And I'm not telling anyone that they are doing Christmas wrong. If you love what you do, then continue to put your heart and soul into decorating. I'm just begging you not to get caught up in all the glitter. Your tree, big or small, is telling your Christmas story. Your stockings lined up on the mantle represent your loved ones, regardless of whether each stocking costs $40. When you open your Christmas gifts, at least tell the person "thank you" before you post the snapchat.
MY Christmas is about my Savior's birth. It isn't about the amount of likes that I get on my wreath, or how much I can pay for a Christmas sweater.
The bible reads:
2"Thus says the Lord, "Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Although the nations are terrified by them; 3 For the customs are the peoples are delusions; Because it is wood cut from the forest, The world of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. 4 They decorate it with silver and with gold; They fasten it with anvils and hammers so that it will not totter. " Jeremiah 10:2-4
With these words, I simply encourage you to delight in the things that YOU delight in. Decorate with your child's K4 ornament. Who cares if doesn't match your peppermint theme?
Celebrate Christmas on your own terms. Spread Cheer, be jolly, and have a Merry Christmas.
