This post will probably totally burst your cheerful, cozy holiday bubble...it's not warm and fuzzy-just matter of fact and real...so don't say I didn't warn you...
The older I get, the less I like "Christmas". By "Christmas", I mean the American Traditional Version (of course, I love celebrating the birth of Jesus....aka: the real Christmas).
1) The house too crowded to put up a tree (we live in a 1 BR apt with four bookcases that are stuffed to the brim, if that gives you any idea...). Plus, my hubby has been having a super busy semester and I have not been wanting to make too much of a distraction for him by dragging all the decorations out. Also, I just didn't feel like it.
2) We never send Christmas cards because A) stamps cost too much and B) we don't have any kids yet, so what's the point? Everyone knows cards without kid pics get put in File 13.
3) We are too old to do "Santa presents" with my parents anymore and as I mentioned, we don't have kids, so we wait until the day after to open gifts with my immediate family. Which is totally fine with me--that's not the meaning of Christmas.
4) I don't start listening to "Christmas" music until I am basically forced to (and I refuse to listen to it until after Thanksgiving at all costs). I start listening about 2 weeks prior to try to get in the "Christmas mood"...
5) I hate the mall....(when I was a teenager, I never thought I would feel that way!) Seriously, though. It's too expensive, too crowded, and too overrated.
6) I hate all the light up, blow up santas and penguins and crap people put in their yards. Two words: TAC.KY. I'm ready to see those things come down.
7) One day I will actually get brave enough not to buy gifts for anyone and to tell them not to buy gifts for me. Giving gifts to people simply because it's what you're "supposed" to do this time of year is in no way celebratory of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I like what someone told me a couple of days ago, "...I'm ready for Christmas to be over. It's too expensive and stressful and you have to be nice to people you don't like..." LOL Except for the last part, I agree. I'm ready, too.
So, as you are indulging in your "Christmas" traditions this weekend (which I will be doing the same thing, so I'm truly NOT holier than thou, trust me), keep this in mind...."...the Son of Man came not to be served but
to serve, and
to give his life as a ransom for
many.” ~Matt. 20:27 He was born to die. For you. For me. To pay for our sins.
That's the real meaning of Christmas.
Merry CHRISTmas one and all.....
