We are amping up for the season. What season?
Spike, the Norway Spruce
Oh. This season. This season meaning the holidays? Or this season meaning the winter season?
How can we use this winter season to prepare us for this holiday season?
It snowed here yesterday for the first time this season. For about 20 minutes. It was quiet. When I look at snow, it gets quiet in my soul.
I have been watching nature get ready for the winter season. I think the snakes might be sleeping now. Shh. The plants have died back. The trees have gone to sleep. The air is quiet. The nights are wonderfully crisp on my walks to and from the barn. Peace. The skies are twinkly and dark and wintery. We welcome all of this cause it spells rest.
This morning’s walk to cows
God gave us time to rest. He gave us a rest period daily. He created a day of rest for us within our week. And winter was created to give both nature and humans rest. It is a time to rejuvenate our very tired bodies, souls and minds from 9 months of go. Did you know there are even cold season vegetables ( potatoes, some varieties of squash, root vegetables, brussels sprouts) and warm season vegetables ( lettuce and other green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers)? Winter season is for us to warm our insides, hunker down and cozy up.
I am glad that Jesus’ birth is in the dead of winter. It is a perfect kind of time where we can turn our focus on Him. I like to imagine Mary and Joseph traveling in the quiet of night to the barn. Snowy and still. I don’t even know if it snows where they lived. But it snows in my mind.
So, how can we take all this quiet, stillness and restfulness of our winter season and channel it into our holiday season? It is quite easy to allow the over stimulated media and commercial world to seep into our pores. But we have a choice, as in all actions we take. I am talkin’ to myself here too, don’t you know.
I use to abhor the holiday season. I resented the fact that materialism overshadowed the real meaning of Christmas. I have little energy as it is, let alone throw in a curve ball that includes taking all of your home decorations down and put up stuff for two weeks, then take it all down again. And shop more in a three-week period than the whole rest of the year combined. What is so glorious about that? Rejoice?
Last time I looked, Christmas was a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord. Why are we celebrating if it isn’t about Him anymore? Why are we celebrating when we don’t believe in Him anymore?
I don’t abhor it anymore. I made the decision not to. I don’t have to play follow the commercial leader if I don’t want to. I will follow my own Leader. I decided to enjoy the season. I decided to use the winter season to prepare me for the birth of Christ, er, I mean, the holiday season.
These are the actions that I plan to implement this season:
1. Make a list that is short enough that is attainable. Daily. Dont bite off more than you can chew.
2. Take in the quiet moments that winter treats us to. Daily.
3. Make sure that while I am doing the shopping thing, I enjoy time with friends. Like lunch with a friend.
4. Be honest with myself. Say no when I don’t want to do something.
5. Go to bed early.
6. Shop less. Give less things. Celebrate time with others instead. Who can afford all that stuff anyway.
7. GRATITUDE LIST. It will make you smile more minutes everyday.
8. What e’er else. Take it slooowwwww and easy.
9. Think about someone else. Make some else’s day.
10. Drink water.
11. The most important …… enjoy my time in prayer with our Creator.
Sunday, we cooked our turkey that we raised and butchered ourselves. And believe ir or not, it was yummy. Kinda.
God bless your soul,
Karen
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