Finding Holiday Joy in Hard Times.

 

Let me begin by saying Christmas always has been and still is my favorite holiday. This season from Thanksgiving to Christmas is the best time of year. But since my husband's death eight years ago and now with being in the midst of a cancer fight of my own, the holidays have changed for me. In many ways for the better. I haven't had the energy to rush around and create the most sparkley spectacular Christmas with matching decor and five star meal in years. Instead my joy comes from quieter, less busy things that are connected to Christmas. Below is a list of the things around Christmas that help me connect with the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus and the hope that event brought into the world. 

One. Christmas Eve service still holds a level of magic for me. The church I attend does a ritual at the end in which the lights are turned out and we light each other's candles until the whole room is illuminated. An object lesson on how Jesus brought light into a dark world. 

Two. I love walking by a house where the owner had put huge effort into decorating with bright lights and fun props. My own house is decorated very simply, so knowing that someone is willing to share the Christmas spirit with strangers makes me happy. 

Three. My memories of childhood and waiting in the fall for the JcPenney Christmas catalogue makes me smile. I grew up in a rural part of Montana where shopping was fifty miles away, so the catalogue was a way to access the magic that a child feels at Christmas. My sister and I would sit side by side and turn the pages each of us pointing out which toys we wanted. The pictures in the catalogue weren't just selling toys; they captured some Christmas magic back when there were only two TV stations to watch. 

Four. The movie Charlie Brown Christmas makes me nostalgic and joyful at the same time. The part where Linus tells the Christmas story from Luke always lifts my spirits. 

That's my list of how I capture Christmas Joy. I prefer simple to complicated, expensive, filled with unrealistic expectations etc. How about you are there simple things that bring you back to the true meaning of Christmas? Is there a movie you watch every year? A tradition or ritual that is low key but deeply meaningful? Has the way you celebrate holidays changed over the years because of life events? Leave a comment and you email address, I will be giving away a copy of Christmas Hostage or Alaskan Christmas Target.