C is for Christmas



Christmas is my very favourite time of the year.  I love the lights in the dark evenings; I love the menu planning; I love the decorations; I love the opportunity to connect with family and friends.  I know that I am getting a little bit ahead of myself with this post and I don't apologise because I love Christmas and this is my last blog for 2024. I'm planning my Christmas celebrations and my theme this year is Mess!

You see I was thinking about how Jesus's conception and birth was messy, in more ways than one.  Physically speaking, every birth is messy and Jesus's would have been no exception.  Socially speaking, there was the potential for rumours because Mary got pregnant before being with Joseph.  Anatomically speaking, it would have been very difficult for her to give birth as a virgin.  Geographically speaking, she was located incorrectly according to the prophesies given and according to her husband-to-be's cultural heritage.  Like I said, it was messy.  And the problem that I have with all of this, is that I don't like mess.  I really really don't like mess.  But I love Christmas.  So the difficult decision that I have made this year is to embrace the mess of Christmas and learn to love it.

Okay, so when I say 'embrace the mess' I am not talking about free-for-alls.  Physically speaking, I was gonna do decorations like I remember from my childhood (all the tinsel decorations randomly taped to the ceiling with brown tape - I kid you not!). But my eldest son politely asked me not to.  Socially speaking, I'm not inviting anyone around because quite frankly, I like splurging on Christmas day in PJs, being silly and going with the flow.  Relationally speaking, I'm a single mama, so I only really need to get presents for me and my kids.  Geographically speaking, I'm a West Midlander now.  I used to be a Londoner and although that's where most of my family resides, I'm staying put.  The Christmas travel thing is a bit beyond my tolerance of mess.  So, although I'm planning aspects of the menu and what gifts to give to my kids, anything could change because I'm embracing the messy nature of Christmas planning, family, society and in general, life.  Here's to a somewhat messy Christmas!

Dr. Monica

💜

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