How to make it a good holiday season

Posted: December 21, 2020 | Categories: Self-Improvement

The holiday season can be hectic.  We don’t want it to be, yet how manyof us reflect back on the holiday and see nothing but a blur.  If so, maybe we need to slow down the “shutter speed” so that we are certain to enjoy some real, special moments this season.

Here is a story that warms my heart.  It was December of 2012, and my mother-in-law was into her 3rd year in a nursing home.  Her name was Eva, and through her 87 years, Christmas had always been her favorite season.  She grew up poor on a small farm in north central Missouri.  One time Eva shared with me how excited she would get when she found an orange in her stocking.

So here we were in modern times, and Eva was ready to wrap up all her gifts that she was giving away.  Most of the gifts were beanie babies and small stuffed animals she had won playing Bingo at the nursing home.  Eva asked my wife (her daughter) to come and help her wrap her gifts.  Joyce wasn’t that excited about going.  Then she did an attitude check.  She thought, “This is my Mom, excited about her daughter coming to help her wrap her gifts in her favorite time of the year.” Eva looked at all the gifts, and thoughtfully selected who got what.  There were many little gifts to wrap.  It took a long time.  Joyce had her mind in the right groove, and she slowed down and was totally present as she wrapped each of her mom’s treasures.  When Joyce looks back, 2012 was one of the most special Christmas’ she has had.  Eva passed away the next year, but the memory of wrapping those gifts lives on vividly for Joyce.  Joyce didn’t “have” a nice Christmas.  She “made” it one.  The rest of us can too.  If you would like some additional inspiration on this, listen to “A Christmas Cup of Tea”.  If you haven’t heard it, you are in for a treat.

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