Stop Saying That!

It was the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The kids and grandkids had all gone home. It was now time to begin thinking about Christmas. The decorations, the cards, the gifts. We would go to Mass and then afterwards begin dragging out all things Christmas. Walking into church, I headed for an empty pew. As I looked toward the altar I missed a step, fighting down panic! This couldn’t be happening! Something isn’t right!

There, standing near the altar, dressed in purple and pink was the Advent Wreath!!! Wait! I thought we had another week! Doesn’t Advent start next weekend? This was still November! Something was wrong, and apparently it was my math, for all through Mass Father kept talking about the four weeks of preparation we have until Christmas. “Stop saying that! This was all wrong! Don’t we have five weeks?” But, then he said it again, “Christmas is four weeks from today”.

Advent means “coming”, or “arrival”, particularly of someone of great importance. Father was trying to prepare us for the coming of the Christ child. After all, that’s what Christmas is all about, and it’s his job. My heart was hearing that message, but…

What my ears heard were accusations, “Christmas is coming in four weeks! You are not prepared! You have no decorations up, no gifts, no cards, no ‘dreaded’ Christmas letter written for friend and family to read!” I needed to get out of there. Precious minutes were drifting away as I sat there, and I was already late! Then he said it again, “Christmas is only four weeks away”. I gotta go!

In a chaotic flurry of activity that only women know, and men can only hope to keep up with, the trimmings of Thanksgiving were stripped and boxed, Christmas ornaments were carefully being unwrapped, trees were going up as carols played in the background, wish lists were gathered, and the credit card was deployed for action! Things were heating up. Then things went a bit off the rails.

Next week we have a trip to Georgia with our son’s family to celebrate our grandson’s birthday. “Birthday!!” We have Christmas to prepare for, and now a birthday too!! It’s not like I didn’t know it was coming. He’s been around for awhile now. He’s going to be 8. These plans were made a couple of months ago. Time is up! All those gifts I have been “thinking” about required decisions and cash. It was essential they all get here in time for me to wrap and take with us, since we are not able to spend Christmas with them this year. Time to unleash “Amazon Prime”!

My sister called with a question, interrupting my shopping, and wanted to know why is it that you can place an ornament on the tree facing forward, and as soon as you let it go, it immediately swings around to face the wall? You try again, turning the hanger the other way, expecting it to face you now, but nope! It’s off in a flash, twisting itself on its own accord to face the wall again! It’s not gravity. It’s not some magnetic force. What gives? It happens to me as well, and I don’t have an answer for her. I suggest to her that we put them on, allowing them to face the wall, as though we don’t really care. Then when we’re done, simply turn the entire tree around. We’ll show them! There’s a reason we’re at the top of the food chain.

I step back to admire the three trees standing in the corner of our living room, with most of their ornaments facing forward. We have decorated them to look like a winter wonderland. Deep within the heat and humidity of southwest Florida, I imagine the cold chill upon my face, and the sting of snowflakes as they land upon my cheek, even though it is 84 degrees outside. The panic is left behind, and the true spirit of Christmas is fanning the flames of hope, peace, and joy in my heart.

Wait! I still haven’t written that “dreaded” Christmas letter!!!!