Monday, December 23, 2013

No "Grinch-ing" around here!

("Hey, Jack. Ho, ho, ho.")
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.
 Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
Dr. Seuss
("I like to look out the window...and count the weeds.")
The last month has been a dizzy madhouse of work and family... and work and fun... and work and work. I was preparing myself for this to be a difficult Christmas. With my daughter loving on her own little family, my son working two jobs, college and his beautiful lady...Steve and I were prepared to process this season with new eyes and open...if not lonely...hearts.

(Nothing says "Christmas Decor" like Star Wars.)
Little did I know that as I filled up the schedule with more patients and activities to distract myself, I would only make it worse. The hustle and bustle of trying to NOT do our regular traditions succeeded in simply making me "grinchy". That's the word we use around here for being less than enthusiastic for Christmas time. That's nearly an un-forgiveable sin in our house...and here I was, the "grinchy-est" of them all.
(Love this little family so much.)
The wonderful thing is that as much as I love all there is to love about this holiday season (Shhh! Don't tell my husband I said "HOLIDAY". That will set him off for sure. "It's about Christ, not HOLIDAYS, woman!") with the decorations and the activities, the music and movies that make it the "warmest time of the year", there isn't a thing about this season that doesn't bring me back to the basics.
("Candy, candy canes, candy corn and SYRUP.
Those are my four food groups!")
When I try to be crabby because it's too busy every where I go- God puts an old man with a big beard and a santa hat in my path...wearing the sweetest smile anyone ever had. All people matter.

("I am a future professional photographer.
 I like to help Nay Nay practice shoots by eating her equipment.")
When I feel lonely because I miss my house full of kid laughter- God sets me laughing with someone special. (One of my favorites- my dear 100 year old patient told me the other day, "People always ask me what my secret is...it's simple. I just forgot to die." ) We are never really alone.

(These two never stop giving me reasons to laugh out loud.
Love them so. )
When I am tempted to buy just "one more thing" for that stocking- just to fill the empty spot in my heart- God sends me a Christmas song that puts the bounce back in my step and reminds me his money is best used helping others, rather than pleasing those who already have more than enough. "Stuff" will never truly satisfy.

And when I am being particularly "grinchy" and overwhelmed with all of it- He puts the picture in my mind of God- incarnate in the body of a newborn. Helpless, defenseless...yet full of hope and light and love. Jesus is the Christ, the one who rescues us all.

What a God we have, who gives freely and abundantly, and never forsakes us.
 
 No matter how many times we need the reminder- Jesus came to seek us, to save us, and to love us unconditionally. Oh, Merry merry Christmas, indeed!

So if you are bubbling over with Christmas spirit that would rival Buddy the Elf, or you look a little more like The Grinch tonight...find hope and joy in these words, friend. God be with you, and bless you.

"...the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger."
(This pic had to be added..just because he's so cute. If his 4 lbs of fluff doesn't make you smile, get help. Teeheehee)