This is my den and dining room. This is my den and dining room on drugs . . . I mean on decorations. Unpacked Christmas decorations to be specific.
What you cannot see (I have my pride you know) is how the Christmas clutter has spilled over into my kitchen and has taken over my countertops.
As I survey the vast sea of boxes and bags full of Christmas stuff, I begin sensing an awful, annual feeling taking over me. My sanity . . . is quickly slipping . . . away. And every year, in this half-sane state, I say the same thing to myself:
“Laurie. Ohhhh, Laurie. You have soooo much to do. And you are soooo behind. You should have started decorating when all of your organized friends did. But you know you. You always wait too late even though you know it will take days and days to get all of this done. And just think, you haven’t even started your Christmas shopping yet. Why, you haven’t even finished your gift list! Oh Laurie, at the rate you’re going, I’m afraid that your Christmas is doomed. Totally and completely doomed.”
Christmas insanity. Is your brain in meltdown-mode as you desperately determine how to get everything done AND within budget? Is your Christmas to do list undoing you? Do not despair, because you are about to learn my secret for Christmas sanity.
The secret lies within these boxes. You see, before I unpack any of my Christmas decorations, I open these boxes first. Wanna see what’s inside?
First, there’s a donkey, an ox, and some sheep.
And three very distinguished looking kings.
One sweet, loving man.
And this amazing young woman and, of course, her beautiful baby boy.
The nativity. It’s my secret to sanity at Christmas. As I open each of those boxes and hold each piece in my hand, all of the Christmas clutter and craziness seems to disappear. Peace and joy always prevail when I focus on what Christmas is all about.
It’s about a night when angels sang to shepherds and proclaimed “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10).
It’s about a humble stable transformed into the birthplace of a King.
It’s about a carpenter who stood by his fiancé when he discovered she was pregnant . . . and knew that it wasn’t his.
It’s about a virgin who, when told by an angel that she would bear God’s Son, answered, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
But most of all, Christmas is about a baby. A child sent from heaven to save sinners. Like me. And you.
And if you and I are wise, we will not allow a temporary case of Christmas insanity to rob us of the simplicity of the nativity. Instead, we will choose to follow the example of the three kings. We will recognize that the most important thing we can do at Christmas isn’t decorating the house. Or shopping, baking, wrapping presents, sending Christmas cards, and on and on and on. The most important thing at Christmas is worshipping Jesus and giving Him our best.
My house is still a mess. But I am not. Because the decorations and all of the other Christmas to dos can wait. I’m staying sane this Christmas, and the secret to my sanity is on my mantel right in front of me.
And I’m thinking . . . maybe I’ll leave it up there all year long.
Staying sane-in-the-middle-of-the-Christmas-clutter, your sister,
How do you stay sane at Christmas? Would LOVE to hear from you!