True Meaning

  For the past week or two, a lot of the e-mailed devotionals and blogs that I've been getting have been about remembering the true meaning of Christmas.  Somehow, even after reading these, nodding my head, thinking it's so true, I am still caught up in all the little stresses of this time of year.  I still have one more person left to find the perfect present for, my one gift that I ordered still hasn't come in, I still have to wrap all of my presents, fill out all of my Christmas cards, bake cookies to give out, fit in visits to friends and family that I desperately want to see...
  Do you notice the common element in all that stress? Me.  Why on earth am I putting all this pressure on myself?  Even though I'm trying desperately not to worry and rush through this holiday season, it's still there in the back of my mind.  I dream about how much the gifts I ordered will cost, am scheduling myself within an inch of my life for next week... but why?  What is the worst that could happen if I don't do all of the things that I want to do before Christmas?
  I don't buy the perfect gift, but giving anything at all shows that I was thinking about them.  Cards might go out a little later than I'd like them to, but they still start on their way towards people I love.  Whether these tasks happen exactly the way I expect them to or not shouldn't affect how my Christmas turns out. I've written before about making some quiet memories (a post I'm starting to feel is very similar to this haha), but I still feel that it's important.  Important enough to possibly repeat myself a little.
  So take a deep breath with me.  In through the nose, out through the mouth, yoga style.  Let go of the stress of things that in the long run don't matter.  Join me in taking your time in wrapping gifts and writing cards.  I'm going to make a whole day of it, spending extra time to pray for each friend and family member that the gift or card is going to, thanking God for everything they add to my life and asking his blessings on them this season and always.  If you get something from me this year, know that it's sent with all the love I have and that it was prayed over just for you and yours.  And recenter of one of my favourite Christmas songs from Taylor Swift, because Christmas Must Be Something More.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Reiz_3COGDM
<3 Kayla