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No Christmas was ever perfect. Even the first one in Bethlehem didn’t smell or look flawless. Giving birth is a messy business, especially in a barn. Those cows and sheep couldn’t have smelled like delicious turkey and dressing baking in the oven, either.
Maybe we can aim for fun memories, not perfect ones. The times we remember best are the mistakes. Our brains remember the imperfect better than the perfect. Maybe they’re wired this way so we can be alerted to danger.
We notice the empty spot on the tree instead of the dozens of colorful ornaments. We notice the tiny stain on the Christmas tablecloth, and not the beautiful red and green design. It’s natural, it’s human. It helps us notice the one car weaving across a yellow line on a highway. This noticing can be helpful in moderation.
But when we pressure ourselves to try to create an elusive, perfect Christmas, maybe we’re beating our heads against a wall. Earth and people and holidays are not perfect. They can be fun, though, and memorable.
We remember when our Christmas-morning hearts almost broke because the batteries didn’t work. We remember when the blankety-blank tree lights wouldn’t light and we had to run to Wal-Mart at midnight.
My most memorable turkey was the first one I baked by myself. When we cut into it, we found the paper packet of giblets and neck still inside. Nobody had told us those were in there and needed to come out. My clearest sweet potato memory involved an explosion in the oven.
People need love and encouragement and something we have no word for in English. The Dutch call it gezelligheid. I’m not sure how to pronounce it, but it’s what we all want for holidays. It’s the feeling one gets from peaceful, fun togetherness with family or friends.
I want to aim for gezelligheid, whether it’s with yummy food or just hot cocoa and a chat. People often don’t need my gifts as much as they need me. They need my loving attention and listening ear. I want to shop less and listen more. The gifts that cannot be unwrapped may be the best and most memorable. I want to give myself. These memories will never end up on a yard-sale table selling for 50 cents.
The Treasure
2/23/2021 9:25:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
(Don’t) Follow Your Heart?
2/11/2021 12:05:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
What’s that smell?
1/27/2021 10:40:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
This Moment
1/14/2021 8:35:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Do your curls, girls!
1/6/2021 10:17:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Forgotten Holiday Promise
12/10/2020 7:40:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
The Flea and the Cosmos
11/19/2020 10:46:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Who’s Driving Me?
11/12/2020 10:13:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Safe and Sound
6/24/2020 1:40:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Patience
2/27/2020 2:07:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Holiday Loneliness?
12/30/2019 9:10:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Haunted? What a Shame.
10/30/2019 1:10:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
What Are We Celebrating?
7/3/2019 3:40:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Where’s The Remote?
6/24/2019 8:08:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Post-Hurricane Prayer
1/17/2019 8:45:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Does God Celebrate?
12/12/2018 1:35:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
What For?
10/5/2018 9:54:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Birthright?
9/1/2018 6:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Exclamation Points
8/20/2018 2:20:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Shaking?
7/26/2018 4:45:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Radiance, Not Wrinkles
11/21/2017 1:00:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Walkin' and Talkin'
9/22/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Touches
9/8/2017 10:15:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
The Worry List
7/17/2017 5:28:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Unanswered prayer?
5/21/2017 7:30:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Who's Your First Love?
4/9/2017 6:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Worse Than Sickness
12/6/2016 7:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
The Highest Price
11/28/2016 2:16:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
No Perfect Christmas
11/21/2016 2:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Sacrificing Thanks
11/14/2016 2:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
The Director
11/7/2016 3:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Watching Dead People
10/31/2016 2:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Against The Goad
10/24/2016 5:45:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Eating His Words
10/17/2016 2:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Glory
10/9/2016 3:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
What Does The Future Hold?
10/4/2016 3:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
More Sweetness
9/27/2016 8:59:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Delicious Cycle Revisited
9/20/2016 7:09:58 AM by: Cathy Everitt
A Delicious Cycle
9/13/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Winning and Losing
9/6/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
When I lose, I win
8/30/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Sunrise
8/23/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Impressions of Amsterdam
8/16/2016 7:07:48 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Sing 'Til I'm Satisfied
8/8/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Ever-Increasing
7/26/2016 12:12:19 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Corrie
7/11/2016 1:28:43 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Favorites?
6/28/2016 10:27:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
I love reminders from these guys...
6/14/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
How Can I Help?
6/7/2016 1:43:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
A Perfect Flower
5/31/2016 by: Cathy Everitt
