I have been doing some sifting lately, but not in the kitchen, in my head. It seems like my perspective on things is changing and I am sifting through what in my life has real value and what has no worth.. I used to be a person who put a lot of pressure on herself to have things just so. You know, the perfect variety of cookies to deliver, the spotless house (at least I tried), the right amount of gifts for each person, etc. and I just never felt like I measured up. This year, for some reason, I was feeling unusually overwhelmed and I sort of gave up (as much as a person who likes to be in control can do that). I let a five year old decorate our tree and tape homemade Christmas pictures on our walls, I did not send cards out and my oven has hardly been on. The crazy thing is no one has missed any of it, including me. Part of this is me getting older and another part is just saying stop the madness.
One of things that helps me remember what this season is all about is my nativity scene display. I have the first inexpensive one I bought when we were newly married, the one made by the kids at Sunday School, several from Central America, the plastic Playmobile one that children like to rearrange and the new one from Liberia that is made from bullets. None of them cost over ten dollars, but I value them because they remind me of that event many years ago when God sent us Hope wrapped in a blanket, laying in a manger.
My wish for you this season is a simple one, look up and follow the star. May the eternal Hope of Christmas be your guide.
