The Half Assed Christmas

There’s a saying that goes, “Don’t half-ass two things, whole-ass one thing.”

I can’t think of a better example of that than Christmas 2020.

Maybe because of the turmoil I see everywhere…

But I see so much full-out effort too. My mother and her husband are working so hard to make this year spectacular and memorable. My husband has worked all year to make this Christmas special. Families everywhere are trying to be supportive and work out ways to be together when life gets in the way and a pandemic causes destruction. 

I have to admit, my Christmas spirit has waned. My tree has only been up a couple of days and it isn’t fully adorned with the treasured ornaments from years past...forty plus years of beautiful Christmas memories...some still lying in the box waiting to be added to the top half of the tree. 

The gifts are wrapped and the stockings are full, sans tradition of the tip-toeing around in the dark. But I trudge through each day hoping against hope that joy will fill my heart as I keep it pushed away in fear. Fear of disappointment. I’m afraid that if I allow the Christmas joy in, a single hic-up will shatter me. Sadly I’m not confident in my strength to hold it together if a disappointment that is too heavy invades. 

Already sickness and other commitments have invaded the traditional plans. Already solid routines have changed and our “regular Christmas” plans are threatened...Half of the family will not be attending...it’s truly a half-ass Christmas. I haven’t put near the heart and joy into it as I typically do.

Trying to be joyful I “look on the bright side”, but it doesn’t help. I chuckle a little when I compare it to the “Christmas Star” that some folks weren’t able to view because of the cloud cover. Ha! Truth. Our traditions are being clouded. I have allowed mine to be clouded. 

All the work I’ve put in to having a fun, meaningful and full Christmas...for what? 

Jesus take the wheel of this Christmas it’s not too late...make it fully about you. Not half-way. 

Remove the mini donkey and bring in the mammoth mule! It’s time to put everything we have into Christmas to make it what it’s really supposed to be-Celebration of a special baby, born for you and for me.

Luke 1-24