Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Religion Columnist
“…Seek ye first the kingdom of God”. Matthew 6:33
Walking into a store the other day I came face to face with a huge display of Christmas decorations. There were trees, ornaments, and all sorts of glistening doodads to don your home with cheer. In my mind a song floated in and took up residence…”It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”…
Back at home I opened my email to find an ad from a major retailer shouting, “Only 10 weekends until Christmas”! Another email on organization announced that they would start focusing on the countdown to the holidays in a couple of weeks.
If that wasn’t bad enough, I was standing in line behind a lady at one of our discount stores and overheard her conversation with the checker. “I don’t know what I am going to do”, she lamented. “How am I going to buy gifts when there isn’t enough money to go around”?
Whoa there buckaroo! Take it easy little lady! There is no need to fret for the holidays will come no matter what we do or not do. There is no need to mortgage the ranch so the little ones will get the latest toy or gadget that will be tossed aside shortly after Christmas.
As a disclaimer, I want to say that I sympathize with retailers, parents, grandparents, and everyone else. I know the retailers need to make money to carry them through until next year. I know we all want to make our loved ones happy with the perfect gift.
I am one of those people who love everything about Christmas. However, Christmas isn’t and never will be as I remembered as a child. This year I probably won’t put up my big Christmas tree. I won’t be baking dozens of cookies. No, I learned to accept my limitations and the fact I can’t physically do the things I once enjoyed.
Does that mean I won’t have the Christmas spirit? No, all it means is I learned not to stress myself out through the holidays. Someone might point out that I don’t have little children to buy or bake for this season, and that would be true. Still, everyone can have a stress-free holiday with a little planning.
We all know that Jesus commanded us to not worry, that He takes care of all our needs (not always wants). When Christmas Eve comes will you be shouting “Joy to the World” or muttering “Bah-Humbug”.
Start right now by making a budget of how much you can spend and then stick with it. Make gifts if you can. One of my best Christmas gifts as a child was Barbie clothes my mom made by hand.
Make a list of all you want to do during the holiday season and then divide it up into weeks and days. Tell yourself you will only do so much on a certain day. By starting now, you will have most of it done by December 1.
Learn to say “no”. There is no reason you have to go to every function or provide refreshments for all gatherings. Pick and choose those activities that are most important to you. After you have refused, don’t feel guilty, just move on.
Finally, remember why we celebrate Christmas. It is all about God’s Son and His birth, not what we have made it. Is all of this easy? No, it isn’t, but a stress-free holiday can be the best Christmas present you will ever get.
Debra Whittington is a longtime resident of Tucumcari. Contact her at: