This Christmas season is shorter than usual, since Thanksgiving fell so late in November. For persons like myself who can’t really think about one holiday until the one prior to it is complete, I’ve been stretched thin with time and the amount of things I want/need to do.

Of course, I’ve read so many social media posts about enjoying the season for what it is, about slowing down and taking it all in, and so forth. It’s true and I’ve tried to embrace that, and to simplify.

One thing I did was decide to ask for help with my “normal” chores (dusting, vacuuming, bathrooms…). I asked one of my nieces to help, and she and her husband came 3 days ago and did just that. It eased my mind so so much (and my ceiling fans haven’t been that white since we moved in here 7 years ago!). Thank you to each of them!!!

I had arranged for them to come about 10 days ago, so that left my mind and time a little freer to shop for Christmas and to decorate the house. Even those “to-do’s” were simplified for me this year as I gave myself permission to have limits to my shopping, cutting myself off after a certain day, and putting boundaries around my decorating, telling myself I would decorate until a particular day and then quit, giving myself permission to skip using some decorations, throw away some old ones, and to do the decorations differently so that my stress level dropped.

Some would still tell me I did too much or I didn’t need to do anything at all to decorate. However, I realized more than ever this year, as I intentionally chose what to use and how to decorate, that there are a lot of rituals surrounding my Christmas decorating. It’s like a liturgy for me that encompasses many emotions surrounding the holidays.

As I decorate, I use many items that were given to me from family who have long since passed on to the next life. I am reminded of them and of my grief in being apart from them, but there is a joy encompassed by the ritual of using these items and taking the tender time and care to place them on the tree or around my home. Memories visit me as well as a visceral sense of the presence of these dear loved ones.

The loves of my life, my children, husband, and now grandchildren, even long-time friends, also propel me forward as I decorate with them in my mind and heart. I place ornaments we’ve given to our children each year, ones given to us from loved ones and friends or even co-workers, and one that our granddaughter made for us a week ago, and it is like a sacrament for me.

It should go without saying, but I’m saying it anyway in case anyone questions, that Christ is at the center of all of this for me. I even prayed for guidance to know what to set aside for this year and what could I throw away. This time of year has always been sacred to me, but with each year, it’s more and more apparent to me how each precious item and how I spend my time during this Holy season is all a liturgy in my life that serves to ground me more deeply in Christ, in love, in hope, in faith, and in joy.

All that to say, I do the decorating for me. It’s a form of my self-care, and my soul-care, that can only be practiced during Advent every year.

A sweet song from Amy Grant was brought to my mind as I typed this, so I share it here with you. May it impact you as it has me all these many years of my journey through the Christmases of my life:

Heirlooms – Song by Amy Grant ‧ 1983

Up in the attic,
Down on my knees.
Lifetimes of boxes,
Timeless to me.

Letters and photographs,
Yellowed with years,
Some bringing laughter,
Some bringing tears.

Time never changes,
The memories, the faces
Of loved ones, who bring to me,
All that I come from,
And all that I live for,

And all that I’m going to be.
My precious family
Is more than an heirloom to me.
Wisemen and shepherds,

Down on their knees,
Bringing their treasures
To lay at his feet.
Who was this wonder,

Baby yet king?
Living and dying;
He gave life to me.
Time never changes,

The memory, the moment
His love first pierced through me,
Telling all that I came from,
And all that I live for,

And all that I’m going to be.
My precious savior
Is more than an heirloom to me.
My precious Jesus

Is more than an heirloom to me.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Amy Grant / Amy Grant Gill / Bob Farrell / Brown Bannister / Elliott B. Bannister

Heirlooms lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Concord Music Publishing LLC