so this is christmas

Christmas this year looks a lot different for me.

Christmas this year looks a lot different to many people.

Usually, I’m savoring the days of December. I have 24 days to just soak in the season; 24 days to read the Christmas story; 24 days to listen to Christmas music.

3 Sundays to hear Christmas choirs, 3 Sundays to hear Christmasy messages.

But, this year I left for a new life on December 3. My frivolous Christmas gift lists turned into requests for beds and toasters and groceries and toothbrushes. Days of listening to Christmas music turned into days of listening to phone menus and trying to get a human on the phone.

Those precious 24 days shuffled into 24 days of packing up and setting up . . . but now it’s time to start picking up.

//

My tree is only about a foot tall. I was given an ornament but have to rest it on the counter because there’s no room.

I won’t be with my immediate family for Christmas . . . for the first time in 20 years.

This is the second time within three years that God has shaken up my view of Christmas. I want things to be perfectly aesthetic (just look at the magazine I put together, if you don’t know what I mean): cozy lights, big tree, roaring fire, the exact right Bing Crosby Christmas song, stockings, presents, family, pajamas, cinnamon rolls . . .

So what happens when none of these exist in my 419 square foot studio apartment?

//

You have to dig deeper than yourself. And in the midst of so much chaos and darkness and lies and fear, not having a typical family Christmas shouldn’t bother us so much, right? But I’m posting this for those of you that aren’t having typical Christmases either.

Maybe you are with family . . . but you’d rather not be.

Maybe you do have a tree . . . but it’s just hiding the fact that the presents will be lacking this year because finances are tight.

Maybe you do have presents and stockings . . . but what you really want can’t be bought.

So this is for those of us who just don’t feel Christmas right now.

Let’s not waste this season. Let’s instead remind ourselves how Mary and Joseph felt after navigating through a desert to get to Bethlehem for tax season. Let’s remind ourselves of Jesus’ humble beginnings, of why we’re celebrating Christmas in the first place.

Let’s dig deeper. And who know? Maybe your joy will be a conversation starter for someone who needs a little light this Christmas.

Merry Christmas from the Oh Beloved One staff!