With this nostalgic time of the year, childhood memories of Christmases long, long ago come to mind. Putting up the traditional tree drags up dubious memories.
Have you ever had a mother instruct you on “exactly” how to put old-fashioned tinsel on the Christmas tree? With mom’s German engineering skills we were admonished to hang one, and only one piece on at a time and it had to dangle down not touching any other braches. There were many “do-overs” when not meeting these expectations.
By the time the “tinsel drill” was over, I was ready to throw the whole box and the tree and call it “close enough”! So much for losing the spirit of the season!
Perfection, I think we’ve all had some sort of “perfection” drilled into us somewhere along the line. If not the Christmas tree, there were demanding teachers, exacting parents, or imposing church rules careful not to deviate from.
Especially during these busy days we need to remember the admonition that life is not about the destination, but “The Journey”.
We get so caught up in preparing the perfect dinner, purchasing the perfect gift, and displaying the perfect family, that we are swept through this wonderful holiday season just going through the motions, seeking the impossible ideal of perfection.
Like the rude guest at a cocktail party, who talks with us while all the time being distracted while watching for someone more interesting to move on to meet, we often look right over the present moment right in front of us. We are seeking to create the perfect holiday while the numerous blessings are right in front of us disguised by their imperfections.
So let’s not worry if the turkey is dry, your tree tilts sideways, the pie is tastes burnt, the sweater for sis is too big, or if Uncle Joe tells a “politically incorrect” joke.
Let’s count our blessings, enjoy what is right in front of us, one imperfection at a time.
