Months ago I signed up to receive these daily wife tips sent to my email and let me just say Lori is a hoot! She always has great advice on how to bless my husband whether it be romantically or just plain common sense. I look forward to opening my email every morning and reading her "little tips." Just for the record Dan likes the ones that involve the romance part but I think today's post was really great too! :) See her tip for the day below.
Years ago I made myself and my family absolutely miserable during the Christmas season. Decorating had to be perfect, food had to be perfect, gifts had to be perfect, ad nauseum. I was one cranky ol' gal and nobody had a good time. When Christmas was all over, I remember crying and telling God how miserable I was and how Christmas just hadn't turned out right. I'm grateful that God speaks in love. He showed me how my priorities were all messed up and how any holiday should be about remembering His goodness and generally blessing people. All that perfectionism and performance was a fast way to make every miserable and brought glory to no one.
My family and I will put up our tree this week (and a few other decorations here and there). We'll send off a couple of packages to those we love far away and we'll probably celebrate Christmas at the coast, just for fun. I'm thinking I'm going to decorate some sugar cookies (I have scads of cookie cutters) and I want to do something creative. But, all in all, I have learned my lesson. God is good and my family is worth the effort it takes to speak kindly, take the perfectionism down several notches, and generally love on them.
I encourage y'all to learn from my mistakes. Take a deep breath, let go of the perfectionism, hug your kids, kiss your hubby and enjoy the simple pleasures of the season. Most of what we think has to be done, doesn't really. We can simplify and love on those around us.
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. Calvin Coolidge
Us
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Psalm 127:1
2 comments:
loved that email today too... she is always encourgaing and love that quote by CC :-)
Thanks for sharing!
I had a co-worker once tell me to make sure I had a "Mary" Christmas instead of a "Martha" Christmas. Its so easy to get lost in the business and commercialism of Christmas if I don't purpose to focus on what's really important.
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