The holidays are not really Christmas

It almost makes me crazy that Christmas becomes such an insane time of year and no matter how much I state in the middle of July that I am going to start my shopping NOW, December 14th still finds me scurrying from store to store, grabbing last minute gifts that I have put off, wondering when on earth I can get candy finished off this week because next week I need to start baking and knitting until my fingers cramp on two scarves that I aspire to have completed by Monday.  (And wow, was that not the longest sentence EVER???). 

So yes, I have been caught up in all of this, giving myself tension headaches and wondering how on earth, I, as one woman, can possibly get it all completed by December 24th.  I get some help, but not enough to really lessen the burden and I hate thinking of all of it as a burden anyway.  And when did Christmas get so hectic?  Why am I stressing out about "Do I have enough gifts for <insert family member's name here> or do I need to buy them something else?  And "Oh, I just know I'm going to forget to buy for someone and did I buy enough Christmas cards?  Did I forget to post one to someone that I should have?"  Why does it all have to be so BUSY?  The world will not end tomorrow if something doesn't get completed.  And since when did Christmas become about how many gifts you get someone?  Why can't it just be simple?

The first Christmas was filled with simplicity.  A little baby born in a stable, and shepherds and wise men coming to honor him because they wanted to, and not because they were afraid of what anyone would think if they failed to show up  at the party.  The wise men gave him gifts and didn't expect anything in return and I'm not sure that anyone brought homemade chocolates or cookies. 

I don't think that little baby born in that stable ever intended for us to become so incessantly insane when remembering his birthday.  I think maybe what he intended was for us to "be still" and right about now, that sounds like a really good idea to me. 

Stillness.  Stillness in knowing that no matter what happens that it will all turn out perfectly in the end and it has nothing to do with how much we accomplish at Christmas or any day of the year for that matter.  It doesn't matter how much time we spend working, or baking or shopping or parenting, or fretting.  Doesn't matter.  He loves anyway and it will all work together for good.

Now, how simple is that?