Christmas: Most Painful Holiday of the Year

[TSherbs]

I just can't get away from the crass commercialization of this holy day. I am no longer a faithful Christian, but the importance of sacred birth and renewal and peace are deeply planted in me.

I should go on a hermitage this time of year.

GoFundMe?

j/k

Do any of you struggle with this like I do?

[Bold2013]

I have a hard time balancing making it fun for my kids while trying to convey the importance of the incarnation.

[Bold2013]

Also keeping them from turning into entitled ingrates.

[Chuck Naill]

I just can't get away from the crass commercialization of this holy day. I am no longer a faithful Christian, but the importance of sacred birth and renewal and peace are deeply planted in me.

I should go on a hermitage this time of year.

GoFundMe?

j/k

Do any of you struggle with this like I do?

I do think finding time to be alone, for just a bit, is a way to collect thoughts and decide what is truely important for you.

In Dicken's A Christmas Carol, Scrooge comes to understand what is important. It is a good reminder for me each time I watch it. When he reconnects with the sister's son for a meal, that is the sweetest part for me.

The part about the little children "Want" and "Ignorance" might be particularily important for a teacher like yourself, and especially as this might be your last year before retirement. Anyway, I hope you find what you need this holiday season.

[Chip]

Neither the holiness nor the commercialization have much effect on me.

We get in touch with friends, exchange cards and letters, give modest gifts, cook special dinners, hang up some lights, and donate to charity.

My only gripe is that Herself plays Christmas music for hours on end and insists on watching It's a Wonderful Life.

[kazoolaw]

TS-

This has been a constant struggle since our kids were little, and opening presents took over Christmas morning. It spilled over into a revulsion to Christmas songs starting at Halloween.

Readers, feel free to guffaw at will: part of the answer came from TV. We would faithfully watch a Charlie Brown Christmas every year. Nice story.

And one year the obvious hit us: the Christmas story from Luke was the point. And so we began each Christmas at our house with the reading from Luke. As the kids, and grandkids, got older they would read too.

2:1Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. 2:2This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 2:3And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city.
2:4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 2:5to enroll himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.
2:6And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. 2:7And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
2:8And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 2:9And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 2:10And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 2:11for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 2:12And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
2:13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
2:14Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

No, it wasn't a complete antidote, but along with pushing aside the commercials, and the gift/dollar count, it helps. So does helping people in genuine need: a gift of food, time, money with no expectation of recognition or return.

Thank you for sharing what we often struggle with. May this message, along with a time of quiet and reflection, bring you the joy of the Child's birth and the promise of renewal.

Merry Christmas.

[TSherbs]

Thanks @kazoolaw, same to you. I travel tomorrow to get together with my children (adults now). Blessings. And the world pivots back towards the light tomorrow....

[Chuck Naill]

Happy Winter Solstice everyone.

[Empty_of_Clouds]

Happy Summer Solstice everyone!

[TSherbs]

Happy Summer Solstice everyone!

You're always backwards.

My back yard:
https://imgur.com/a/2qqcpTY

[Chuck Naill]

Thank God for small backyards. I used to bush hog every Summer weekend.

[Chip]

I mow and clip around the house, to reduce the fire hazard. But we have five acres and try to keep the native vegetation intact which draws the local wildlife: moose, mule deer and whitetails, foxes, coyotes, weasels, rabbits, birds, snakes. The neighbors to the north ravaged their place with year-round horse grazing (see the difference in cover across the far fence.) Most of the surrounding public land is badly overgrazed by cattle.

[Chip]

The worst pain I've suffered so far is sorting out the tangled wee lights so I can hang them up. And then discovering that half the string is dead. Which wasn't evident when I plugged them in to test.

[Chuck Naill]

I mow and clip around the house, to reduce the fire hazard. But we have five acres and try to keep the native vegetation intact which draws the local wildlife: moose, mule deer and whitetails, foxes, coyotes, weasels, rabbits, birds, snakes. The neighbors to the north ravaged their place with year-round horse grazing (see the difference in cover across the far fence.) Most of the surrounding public land is badly overgrazed by cattle.

Better you than me. Looks like a nice place, however.

[Chip]

The saddest part for me (aside from the way our old neighbors keep moving south or dying off) is that the annual Christmas potluck at the local saloon and dancehall is cancelled, owing to the plague. It's been one of the bright spots of living in the outback.

[Chip]

After a dry December, we got a Christmas Eve snowstorm that continued through the day, about 10 inches of medium-dense snow. We opened gifts, mostly stuff we need in fancy wrapping and some dog treats. The bright spot was that I finally got to try out the battery-powered snowblower I got last fall, and it's great: no struggle to start, no racket, no noxious fumes, heaps of power, and it's lighter and easier to control than the old Husqvarna I fought with for years.

Since we have 100% solar power, I'm clearing snow with the power of the sun. . . just a lot more quickly.

[Chuck Naill]

After a dry December, we got a Christmas Eve snowstorm that continued through the day, about 10 inches of medium-dense snow. We opened gifts, mostly stuff we need in fancy wrapping and some dog treats. The bright spot was that I finally got to try out the battery-powered snowblower I got last fall, and it's great: no struggle to start, no racket, no noxious fumes, heaps of power, and it's lighter and easier to control than the old Husqvarna I fought with for years.

Since we have 100% solar power, I'm clearing snow with the power of the sun. . . just a lot more quickly.

That's great you can use solar. I am assuming your weather results in sun most everyday?

[manoeuver]

Christmas has remarkable leverage toward joy or pain.

Grateful to be on the happy side of the lever this year. hope any on the other side can wiggle over to this side by next year.

plenty of room.

[Chip]

That's great you can use solar. I am assuming your weather results in sun most everyday?

Here's a map. We're in SE Wyoming.



At almost 8000 ft., we have really clear air in winter, which helps. Our arrays are freestanding, so I adjust them to the sun angle, which also helps. At a steep angle for winter, they catch more sunlight and the snow slides off.

[TSherbs]

A year later, it's still November, and here we go again...