Yep. Once again it’s that most wonderful time of the year. Have you noticed the stress level rising steadily everywhere you go?
We haven’t quite reached melt-your-earrings stress level yet. That’s reserved for the day before the day before Christmas when you realize that the hideous sweater you’d planned to regift your sister was actually from your mother-in-law and now she, along with the three additional dinner guests she just invited to your house for Christmas dinner, will actually be in attendance to witness firsthand your callous ungratefulness and ineptitude at hiding it.
So off to the mall you go. That horrible, under-parking-spaced, overly Christmas-caroled, garishly decorated, faux-glee-fabricated, nightmarish money-sucking factory bursting at the seams with listless people like you pathetically list-lessly (as in no list) wandering around, searching for … for … for anything that doesn’t scream YOU WERE AN AFTERTHOUGHT!!!!
Even my house is feeling the strain. With three weeks to go until officially hitting Stress-Com 4, the 
weightiness of performance pressure is causing my fake hanging poinsettias to jump ship and sprawl hither and yon, covering the front flower bed with weird measles-like decor.
The fireplace garland refuses to stay on the mantle. It prefers to droop beneath the majestic angel above, making it appear that she has lost her festive bloomers.
Our manger scene is missing Baby Jesus. Again.
The animated plush soul man dressed like the Blues Brothers will NOT stop singing, “I’m a snowwwwww man!” no matter how many times you pound the OFF button.
And yet amid all this hair-tearing craziness, we’re called to reflect on the reason for the season – the Christ child in a manger.
So how do you do it, my BBFF (Blessed Blog Friend Forever)? How do you dial down, scale back, and focus on the true gift and not all the wrappings?
I’ll share a few ideas in my next post, but in the meantime, I’d love to hear your coping techniques and sanity-preservers for the Stress-mas season.
P.S. Special hug to my writer bud Rick for permission to borrow his awesome term, Stress-mas.
P.S.S. Look for my new Christmas Blessings Giveaway coming up next week!
I focus on the true meaning of Christmas. If it is not on my heart to do it, it will not do it, including buying gifts for people. I hang up lights because that signifies Jesus has the light of the world.
But as far as your baby Jesus, well, put HIM out on Christmas morning since that is the we celebrate His birth ?
Many Continuous to you and your family
Your funny but lovable quirky blogs are always a stress relief for me, Christmas time or otherwise! May God continue to bless your crazy amazing comedic writing abilities and may you and your family have an awesome Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I miss seeing you and talking to you at the Brandon Christian Writers meetings. Please wish all at the Christmas party a very Merry Christmas from Mike and I.
Hugs and warm wishes with cocoa and sprinkles on top,
Lilly Pennington
I think playing Christmas hymns helps me to remember the True Gift of God – His Son to us.
I also have learned that I can’t possibly attend every Christmas event that ‘presents’ itself at this time of the year (and remain sane). I have had to learn to prioritize and to treasure those I can attend.
Christmas Blessings to you Debbie and your sweet family!