Here it is just a few days after Christmas and I’ve done it again: I’m suffering from yet another holiday hangover. Not the kind that comes from indulging in too much alcohol, though the fit of my pants indicates that overindulgence of something needs to be addressed. I have the kind of holiday hangover you get from overspending, overeating, overscheduling, and overdoing.
Every year I start the season with a deep resolve and an optimistic plan. I will budget for Christmas for several months so that my family will not be eating lint-covered Christmas candy from the bottom of our stockings as a meal by mid-January. I will deck the halls in manageable stages so that I am not getting out the last of the decorations on December 24 to put away on December 26. I will limit our family’s activities so that when it comes time to distribute the gifts on Christmas morning we still recognize each other. Those are always the plans. Then I wake up, it’s December 26, and this Christmas season has looked like all of the others.
It’s the expense of Christmas that gets me every year. The postage for the Christmas cards, the ‘one last’ decoration we need, the ‘little gifts’ that add up and add up, even the food we consume this time of year seems to total a staggering amount. Then my children are out of school and expect to eat during the day. What’s that about? I bought them Christmas gifts, they expect me to feed them, as well? And wouldn’t it be a lovely Christmas outing for us to go to the movies together as a family? Kids, I hope you learned something, because we just spent your first year of college on a two hour movie and one tub of popcorn. Then don’t forget that gasoline is at an all-time high. Perfect time for a 1,000 mile trip, isn’t it?
I try not to resent the overwhelming total of this time of year. It is completely within my power to change what my family spends and every year I have grand intentions of doing just that. But I seem to simply take the path of least resistance and most expense, and then gripe about it.
So here it is the limbo-week between Christmas and New Year’s -- time to look back and look forward. I have a moment to slow down and evaluate. Financial folks will tell you it’s time to make an end of year evaluation of your finances. Once I’ve found all the spare change in the couch, I’m through with that exercise. It’s also a good time to take an overall life evaluation. Is what I’m living reflecting what I say I believe?
My thoughts turn to the expense of the season. I look back and count the outrageous cost of this holiday. I repent of my extravagance as I think about the original cost of this holiday: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,…” (John 3:16a) I sprinkle the financial blessings God has given me on various things throughout this season, but God gave all He had for the season. He allowed his only child to leave his heavenly home and come to this flawed world. He did that so “…that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16b) Amazing.
I look toward 2008 with a grateful heart. Thankful for another day, possibly another year, to live a life of gratitude, possibly a life of moderation, and share His blessings with the people He puts in my path.
7 comments:
Great post, I also have to plan for the money issues of Christmas.
We are eating the lint-covered candy as well! Maybe Levi can cook it up for us in his new little kitchen from Santa! :)
2008 holds some big changes for me. I'm excited and terrified all rolled into one. Is that possible?
I'm with ya sistuh. . .I have a headache, and part of the in-laws are due here in 35 minutes to shoot firewords. So far today I've managed to feed my family, figure out how to manage the white spaces in photos with the digital camera, taken enough photos to run the battery in the digital camera down not ONCE but TWICE as I've practiced, and "watched" (fast-forwarded to the favorite parts) two romantic comedies. I have got "clothes" on--and I use that term loosely since they don't differ much from my pj's.
But you know what? We had a great Christmas. The kids had fun. We had fun watching them have fun. And now, like you, I'm paying the piper--two million items of clothing to fold/hang up, walking, dishes. . .it will never all get done.
But, we are happy. We love each other. I will try to motivate myself with those thoughts even as I sit here overwhelmed at the "amount" of Christmas to put away. :)
Oh, boy...do I feel your pain. January is just agonizing for teachers who try to live nearly six weeks without a paycheck!
The faculty lounge in mid-January is filled with coworkers who have bags under their eyes from lack of sleep (working second jobs and/or lying awake at night worried about money) and who all smell like tuna casserole, PB&J, and cheap ramen noodles...
This has been our most peaceful Christmas in years. Jack having surgery just days before Christmas slowed everything down to a screeching halt, and his slow recovery kept it that way. My laundry has been caught up for 2 weeks now, I have made several meals from scratch. The slow pace of Christmas has been such a blessing.
I have guilt over leaving some things off. But I do have less to put away and it feels pretty freeing. I will be done pretty quickly this year....
It's those teacher gifts that get me, dadgum it! I always feel that we need a little something extra and then I feel quilty for NOT giving to the speech therapist, both PE teachers, both music teachers, etc.
I tried to make up for their loss with gifts, which cost money. On one hand I am not sorry, on the other I am. My hope was that the holiday would pass quietly and it never does. I hope you have a wonderful 2008.
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