Every year, mom worries and frets, stresses and shops. Scours for that perfect gift, stays up wrapping way too late. She bakes and she shops again for all the things she forgot. She decorates and makes ornaments with her littles. She does her best to be sure every need is met with care. Mom gets less sleep and feels like she still has a million things to accomplish.
But do you know what else Mom does?
Mom makes Christmas. She provides the abundant joy her family feels with careful planning or with frazzled quickness. It really doesn’t matter which method, you see, as long as her family feels that joy.
Mom makes Christmas. She gives her littles all the experiences they could ask for, from the ornament making to the cookie decorating, to the elf on the shelf finding each day. Or, maybe she does things differently. She gives them the experience of time with her, simply sitting and reading by the lit tree. It doesn’t matter, as long as time is spent together.
Mom makes Christmas. She draws her babies in close as they read the story of Jesus. She teaches them all she believes and reminds them of His love for them and of hers. Or, perhaps, she holds them close and spends her day in wonder alongside them, marveling at how their family even made it through this season. It doesn’t matter how she conveys it, words or closeness, as long as they feel loved.
This year, Mom, make Christmas.
But not in a way that has you bending over backward, worrying that the success of the entire season depends on you. Because, whether you know it or not, you already make Christmas. I hope you can find as much joy and peace this season as you provide to those in your care. Go settle in and relish it, whatever it looks like for you this year. Don’t be so hard on yourself, just this once. You really do make Christmas.
Merry Christmas, friends.
