Ho Hum... the Holidays...

I remember my first set of Holidays as a married couple. By the end of Christmas Day, I found myself on Scot's old bed at his parents' house crying. The tugging and pulling that occurred after each set of parents realized that the Holidays were no longer going to be the same; when they realized that their child was now married; and there were two families essentially trying to fight for time with their own child, well... it just got to me by the end of that day. I simply lost it by the end. At that point, Scot and I came up with a plan to make the Holidays easier for us and our future family.

Our plan has worked for years... well until recently that is... There were a few bumps last year. And then well this year... Let's just mention this year... Some wrenches got thrown right on in and "the plan of attack" has been forced to be abandoned so to speak. Mostly, it has been scheduling conflicts. As fear, worry and dread started to overtake me in regards to "the what-to-do's" and "how will others react" my friend suggested something that honestly has never crossed my mind before. A couple of weeks ago as she and I were discussing our Holiday plans and the stress over planning them, she told me that I could pray over the Holidays and pray over the decisions, planning and scheduling. I thought to myself "WOW! Never thought about praying over the planning!" What an awesome idea.

As I was praying over the "planning" aspect of the Holidays, I soon realized that I hadn't been praying about the Holidays as a whole as one of my daughters reminded me of this earlier today. 'Out of the mouths of babes.' She simply and plainly came up to me and asked "Mommy, are you excited for Christmas time?" I looked at her for which a small lump developed in my throat. My answer that was stirring in my mind was "NOPE." Now I didn't tell my little one that family discourse(s) had swiped the Merry Christmas rug right out from under my feet just a day or two prior and the "holly jolliness" of the Holidays had become a "ho hum..." kind of a theme. I replied that I was trying too enjoy them. Then I made up my mind that no matter what, for the sake of my kids that I was going to enjoy it for them. So I realized that I needed to pray for me, my immediate family, for my extended family on both sides as well as a situation that I have found myself in.

While I am unsure as to how the Holidays will go and how things will work out, I know that God is in the midst. And if I find myself filling up with the negatives, I am going to claim some thanksgiving in my heart. While I can't control the thoughts and opinions that others may have of me, I can control mine as much as I am humanly able.

If you find yourself stressed about the Holidays and certain aspects of that 'wonderful' time of the year, I urge you to pray.

And with that... Happy Holidays!