A Simple Christmas

I love Christmas. The preparation, the excitement, family time, celebrating.

Every year, I feel excited as October ends and Bonfire night approaches and I know that soon I can ‘legitimately’ start Christmas shopping, getting the decorations down from the loft, making lists, all the planning!

But then every year, I hit a spot where mild panic sets in and I don’t feel I have enough time or energy for it all. What if the gifts aren’t right, - have I bought enough? What about the boys, have we planned enough for them to have great memories of this season? Shall I make a list of ALL the Christmassy things we could do, films we can watch, baking, homemade gifts to make etc and do something everyday in December? (In the past, I’ve made the list, not actioned it and spent the holiday feeling guilty!).

I don’t think it’s wrong to want to do these things or even to plan them in, but when it becomes an expectation we can’t meet, those things that should bring joy, turn into an obligation.

For many of us, Christmas can become a massive ‘to do’ list. The things we think we are going to enjoy become a stress, we can’t fit in what we’d hoped we could and we feel overwhelmed. Is there a way to change this? Is there a way we can have a ‘simple Christmas?’

This question of a ‘simple Christmas’ has been going round my head for a while. Just the words make me breathe a little deeper. How can I simplify things so that I lean into what is most important?

As a Christian, Christmas has always meant more than gathering with family and buying presents. Those things are very special, but I believe there is more. I really do want each year for it to be more about Jesus than anything else. More about why He came to save us and that truth is for us for every day, not just once a year.

It is so easy though, to get drawn in to a message that runs parallel to (and sometimes overtakes) the real meaning of Christmas. The need for more. More, that according to the adverts, will lead to the ‘best Christmas ever’. More decorations, more traditions, more events, more food, more presents and each year I find myself trying to fight it.

I have a friend (check out Hannah Miller@hellosidekick.co) who often shares advice and wisdom focused on purpose. I find this helps me to sift through the world’s messages that can be pretty loud, particularly at this time of year.

One thing that stuck with me was when Hannah was musing a question about how we wanted to feel at the end of a certain experience and I want to apply that specifically to this Christmas season.

How do you want to feel at the end of this Christmas?

I don’t often think about how I want to feel at the end of something.

I’m too busy thinking about how to action it and what I need to organise for it to happen, but this outlook speaks to our priorities. If we want to end this season feeling more rested, then how do we go about that as we plan? Probably by not filling every inch of every day, but planning in margins for rest.

If we want to feel we’ve made positive connections with people, then how do we make this the priority over other things? This way of thinking, I believe, helps us with the right focus. You will feel different in January if you have decided to focus on the things you regard as most important during December.

I would like to feel that as I reflect back on December I have made room for Jesus. I have made time for advent devotionals, I’ve reached out to those who might be lonely and invited them into our home. I have said ‘yes’ to opportunities to make memories and ‘no’ to other things, to create space to rest or just for the spontaneous.

Also, to know that I’ve helped the boys not just to think about what they want for Christmas, but also to think of ways to help serve our family, neighbours and friends. My hope is to be more present with people and less stressed about how the food is or if we have enough Christmas trimmings. And that any gifts I have given are given with the right heart which is good enough - they don’t have to be perfect or plentiful.

Instead then of feeling sad that it’s all over as we return to our routines in January, I’ll be happy that I was able to enjoy the main things and have special memories to take into the coming year.

Everyone will have different hopes and expectations for this season. What would be your main goals and hopes for this Christmas?

How will you plan your time so that you can make the most of these hopes and not lose them in a sea of ‘to dos?’

Perhaps you could take time today to make a little plan or write in a diary or journal your main hopes for this Christmas. These can then be a point of reference for you and if you are tempted to make other things more important, or to let the panic set in, you can come back to this and re-centre.

Christmas to me is very simple. I really want to keep it that way.

“Joy to the world. The Lord is come

Let Earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare Him room

And Heaven and nature sing…..”