Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
The Christmas Queen has lost her ho, ho, ho! I used to be the Christmas Queen. Though I held myself back from decorating until the day after Thanksgiving (okay, sometimes, the night of Thanksgiving), as soon as I could, I turned on the Amy Grant, A Christmas to Remember album as loud as it would go and drug the trees, lights and decorations down from the upstairs closet. I had so much stuff that it entirely filled one large closet floor to ceiling stacked with bins. Some years, I put up as many as five trees of varying sizes. I’ve often said that it looked like Santa Claus threw up in my house, but I loved it. In the last few years, I’ve downsized for a variety of reasons. No kids to share it with, no energy to do as much as I used to do. An awareness of the poverty in the world, and an understanding that Christmas is more than decorations contributed, too. I gave most of it away last year. I only use a few lights and garland on the outside of the house, a tiny three foot tree and my collection of manger scenes inside. It was enough. But, this year, I have even lost my interest in that. Stress at work, distractions at home and the chaos of our world may have contributed to my loss of enthusiasm. It is an odd feeling for me to have no Christmas spirit. When my radio station started playing Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving, I was even annoyed. I tried to manufacture the Christmas spirit. I played Celine Dion’s version of O Holy Night. I dusted off my manger scenes and set up the tree. Even husband was worried as I sighed and said, “I just don’t feel like Christmas this year,” and along with older son, without complaining put up the outside lights. They are pretty, but they don’t make me feel any more Christmasy. The thought of shopping makes me feel sick to my stomach. I look at the decorations and think about how much trouble they will be to put away. Christmas sweaters just give me hot flashes. If this were a children’s tale, it would have a happy ending; the queen would eventually find her Christmas spirit and make the world a brighter place. That just sounds tiring to me. As I sat on the couch in the dark looking at the lights and the bare tree that still has no ornaments on it, I thought, maybe there is a happy ending after all. Maybe the Christmas Queen finally learns the true meaning of Christmas. Not the baby in the manger, but the Savior who came to take away her burdens. As Linus says, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8-14)“ That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
I could have written that last year – or this year. I, too, was so into Christmas! I even dressed up as Santa to do my Christmas shopping. Last year, I put up a tree but never decorated it and only turned it on a couple of times. This year (so far), no lights, no tree. The neighbors are outdoing themselves with holiday decorations and our house seems dark in comparison. I don’t care. I realized last year that Christmas has become more of a religious observance to me than a holiday. I don’t Christmas shop, but I do buy socks and shirts for homeless people and make donations to various organizations and participate in an angel tree. Those are the kinds of gifts I give these days. I’m right there with you – but I find this kind of celebration much more satisfying to my soul than the glitz and running around like crazy. Merry Christmas, Cathy!