Candy blogs: There is a new spirit surrounding Christmas this year, don’t you think? We are finally admitting on a broad scale that we have made this holy holiday into an opportunity for enabling shopping addiction and over indulging our children and justifying a reason for living on more than we bring in. All true.
There has always been a spirit of generosity, too, with gifts and food and money given to those who need it. But this year that part of Christmas has been brought forward. There is a heightened sense of the need to relate to each other on a more meaningful level, a craving for the simple joys, a looking less at ourselves and more at where we can truly make a difference.
I have to admit that I have never pondered Christmas more than I have this year.
In my little family I have a reputation for being a sap. I have tried some different ways of doing these types of things but they have usually met with knowing glances and avoiding eye contact and barely-covered heavy sighs. Ahh, my quality time love language recoils at these responses but you can’t teach a pig to sing. So this year I won’t be overdoing the sappy stuff. I do plan to give meaningful gifts but I won’t be overdoing the commentary that could go along with them. I will let them speak for themselves.
But I don’t have to let the preferences of others change the meaning I find in Christmas. My own personal Christmas … my own personal meaning. As I’ve been decorating the house and listening to Christmas music and pondering the bigness and smallness of his birth, Jesus has whispered His sweet reminders that:
… He made me sappy on purpose and it finds its sweet spot every once in a while.
… In this season of my life I’m not responsible for making Christmas meaningful to anyone else. I am only responsible for living out the meaning I find in it.
There are some physical “things”, though, that are meaningful to me at Christmas. I have several boxes of Christmas stuff but, since our nest became empty several years ago, now I only pull out the REALLY meaningful things.
Here are some of them:
And candles. I love candlelight at Christmas.
If you are struggling this season, worried about not having enough money to give your family the Christmas they’re used to, take this as your opportunity to re-connect to a REAL Christmas. Who needs those toys that get broken or games that are beaten in a month or gadgets that are obsolete as soon as they’re opened? What our families truly need from us is less presents and more presence (Pastor Darrel Wiseman).
How might that look in your family? Popcorn garlands? Singing Christmas carols together or even caroling around the neighborhood? Sharing a favorite meal? Looking at family photo albums? Reading Christmas books and stories together? Attending free community events? Building a snowman? Baking goodies and sharing with neighbors? Going sledding? Hand-made cards? Letters of respect and love in a frame?
There are times you’re meant to receive instead of give.
If you’re not struggling this season, find someone who is and do something about it. Hear Jesus whisper His purposes to you.
Here are some ideas:
World Vision Christmas Catalog
Capture and enjoy each Christmas moment. Celebrate His birth.
After all, Christmas changed the world.
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great JOY for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10<a
p.s. Don’t you just love how WordPress makes it snow in December?! You can hear the silence of snow or the jingle of sleigh bells!
Candy Troutman 
“In this season of my life I’m not responsible for making Christmas meaningful to anyone else. I am only responsible for living out the meaning I find in it.” Well said!
I’ve always loved Christmas– and find myself trying to force everyone else to see what I see….I need to let it be and just enjoy. 🙂
Thnaks, Candy.
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Sherri, I think those of us who notice “moments” and feel things deeply have a hard time remembering that others don’t. And I often set myself up be be disappointed. So this year I’m going to try to let everyone be who they are. Boy, this growing up thing is the pits, isn’t it? It would be so much more simple if everyone just thought the way we did.
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Christmas is different for us this year… a good kind of different. I’ve been much more reflective and relaxed about it all–not rushed. I particularly enjoy watching all my favorite Christmas, Hallmark movies, along with reading special books to my kids. They’re still so in to it, while my older ones are barely around. So……………….. I’m enjoying the thrill with my younger ones for a while longer. I have downsized the decoration operation, though. Enough already.
peace~elaine
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Elaine ~ I know you and your family have a very different perspective on Christmas this year. Reading stories and watching movies and spending time sounds like the perfect way to “spend” Christmas. They would much rather spend some couch time with you than all that other hubub. You inspire me.
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Your pastor’s name is really Pastor Dan WISEMAN? If he doesn’t write a book on seeking Christ during the holidays (or Christian astronomy or SOMETHING) he’s missing out!
It’s cool to hear your thoughts on Christmas Candy…. as someone with “Christmas Issues” who really doesn’t like the holiday, I really liked how you said we’re all responsible for finding and living our own meaning in/through it. After years of having tinsel jammed down my throat and being made to feel like “something’s wrong with me” for not being able to enjoy the holiday, I hate it, I do. But what I’m finding is that as I draw closer and closer to Jesus in my brokenness, He doesn’t put all those heavy holiday requirements on me. He just asks for my honesty, and my simple honest response to His love… and that’s it.
And in so many ways that has saved the holiday for me… it’s not so bad anymore. The tree went up without any tears or major meltdowns yesterday, and I actually just did a bit of shopping online. I’m honestly kind of excited to watch my niece open the gifts I got her. And while I’ll probably never join the world in a full on “traditional” celelbration of the holiday, the Lord is teaching me that celebrating in my own quiet way is A-Ok. Like you said, I’m only responsible for finding and living my own meaning through and in it 🙂
Thanks for sharing!!!
Love Kelly
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Yep, our pastor’s last name is really Wiseman. LOLOL! I love your honesty about Christmas, Kelly. Bottom line is that it’s just a day dedicated to remembering, “what a strange way to save the world.” ♪♫♪♫♪ Everthing else has just sifted down through the years and turned into this American thing. If we remember and honor the coming of the Savior we have Christmas in our hearts.
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I’ve spent a lot of time lately thinking about meaning . . . what gives things meaning? How do I find or create meaning in things? And, especially, how do I find or create meaning in the things I do so I don’t feel like I’ve wasted my time? I don’t have any good answers yet, but I was interested that you mentioned it, too.
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Christy, for me, the meaning of “things” is found in the people they remind me of. Even if the remembrance is of an experience it was usually special because of who was there to share in it. People are the only “thing” in this world that has eternal value. As far as the things I do, what makes them meaningful to me is if they cause me to pause and capture a moment that will be celebrated later. I can only think of 5-6 anniversaries out of 34 that I would consider meaningful. They caused me to pause and remember why God chose Scott to be my husband in this life and focus on what was really important. Or one family vacation we took to Yellowstone was especially meaningful because there were no cell phones, no Gameboys (that dates me), no telephones, no electronic gadgets of any kind. It forced us to talk to each other, appreciate the grandeur of creation, have pillow fights, write poetry, sing songs and testify of God’s provision for our family. Those things were meaningful.
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I’m all over this, Candy!!! Thank you for sharing what matters most to you!
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Sheila, you are so good at capturing the meaningful. I learn from you.
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