I hope this is a bit of encouragement for those of you who are like me. You see, the Christmas season just started and I’m already behind! Let me explain. At Christmas, more so than other times of year, visions of Pinterest dance in my head. There are so many great ideas. Since Christmas comes just once a year, I want to do them all! I get so caught up looking at the ideas, that it’s hard to move past the dreaming stage into the planning phase.
That, my friends, is how we arrived last night, December 3rd, at what should have been our 3rd day of special advent stories and ornament making. Instead, I was hearing cries of, “Aren’t we a day behind in this book?” and “Are we finally going to get to make an ornament today?” I had PROMISED that this was going to be the day we would start the ornaments. So, just 30 minutes before bedtime, I was racking my brain, looking through craft supplies, trying to figure out how to pull this first ornament together.
But where I fail, God pulls through. Click To TweetBut where I fail, God pulls through. The Christmas story isn’t about me. It’s about Jesus. So as we read Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalm 37:23-24 NLT
Aside from the spiritual meaning, we even got to pull out the globe and learn about geography. Most of the globe images we see show our side of the world. We turned the globe around and looked at the part of the Earth where it all started taking shape.
Another lesson for the heart was when my son became frustrated because he couldn’t draw the perfect shape of Africa. I pulled up images of Picasso’s work. We talked about how art isn’t about capturing a photographic image. There are no mistakes in art! There are no mistakes in art! Click To Tweet
In the end, it was the perfect beginning to our ornament making. We have sweet ornaments to hang on our trees. Even if they end up in a box of ornaments my kids don’t want some day, they will always be special to me. The lessons we learned will be in their hearts.
It’s okay to be behind with your Advent celebrations. Just don’t let that stop you from celebrating the reason for the season. The Truth in the Tinsel even plans ahead for interruptions with alternative calendars included. Whatever you choose to do, do it with your heart. Be willing to make something simple into a memory that will live forever in little hearts. Happy Advent!
Do you plan too much at Christmas? Are you already behind?
Oh, visions of pinterest perfection is definitely my failings now too! I have to work really hard to be present instead of worrying about the perfection.
Jennifer DeFrates/Heaven Not Harvard recently posted…Preparing for Tooth Fairy Milestones
I am so thankful that God ALWAYS pulls through! You are not behind friend!
Enjoy your weekend!
Caroline @ In Due Time recently posted…Left Behind
I have felt behind on the celebration of Advent for the past few years. I think between the demands we face in our lives (events outside the home) and the picture perfect world of Pinterest, it is easy for us to feel like a big fat failure.
LauraOinAK recently posted…Advent 2015 is Here! 40 Days of Seeking Him
Yes. I am still running behind. I am at least trying to create some excitement about catch-up day!
I hear you! My imagination is overly active with ideas for Christmas – but they are just in my head often so I have to remember to let go of the disappointment. To my kids we are doing everything right on time still.
Marissa
I actually planned ahead this year and got my wife her present early. Hoping to get a few things for the rest of the family too. It’s so true that when I fail God comes through. This is a great reminder in other areas of life too!
Jonathan Key recently posted…9 Creative Ways to Give This Christmas
there is no behind when it comes to God. HE is always on time…so your being behind really is his just on time:) He taught you something from this:)
Brianna recently posted…Four Reasons I’m not the Girl my Husband Married
I feel behind too! I’ve not done any shopping yet, not ordered my turkey, but you’re so right, we need to worry less about these things and make sure we are not distracted from the real reason!
Helen recently posted…He Came to Divide Households
Goodness, yes! It’s hard when we’re not able to do everything we want during the Christmas season. We just have to remember that, ultimately, it’s all about Jesus.
Susannah recently posted…Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop
Those ornaments are adorable!! I love that you got around to them even if it didn’t fall on the previously ordained date! Like you said the focus in on Christ and all these advent tools are just here to help us with that focus not to frustrate us. God bless you this Christmas season!
I’m feeling the pinch right along with you. The convergence of expectations and reality can be brutal. Thanks for the reminder to see what really matters in all of it.
Katie Westenberg recently posted…The One Thing You Really Must Know This Christmas