Christmas Trees After Halloween
This year, my family became those people.
The people I used to talk about each Fall. The people who couldn't let Thanksgiving even get a hint of the spotlight before they rushed to put their Christmas decorations up. I mocked and judged them, irritated that they rushed the seasons and refused to remain in the present.
Or so I thought.
My husband often says pain is one of our greatest teachers. It took pain for me to change my perspective of these people and to join them in their Holly Jolly festivities.
In October, my pastor husband and I faced an avalanche of jaw-dropping ministry crises. Instantly propelling us into the role of spiritual ER doctors. Once we stabilized our patients, we exhaled a long sigh of relief and exhaustion. We are grateful the Lord sustained us. But, we felt overwhelmed with preparing for the upcoming ministry season.
In our roles, we always think a season ahead. We already have the Christmas Eve service mapped out. Not because we want to rush the season. We need to prepare to lead our congregation through the holidays.
We usually put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. But the season has felt rushed the last few years.
This year, we decided to become those people.
The people who quickly forget Halloween ever existed and pull out the Christmas decorations on November 1st.
We want to savor the feeling our Christmas decor brings to our home.
The coziness of twinkling lights in the dark.
The way we all want to gather together on the couch and enjoy being present with one another.
The slowness of life we give ourselves permission to embrace.
This is a reminder that King Jesus brings hope to our darkest despair.
After a hard month, we were ready to cultivate joy to help us stay resilient in the storm.
Now, let me be clear. There is NO Christmas music on rotation yet. That will have to wait until after Thanksgiving. But the decorations are up. I even finished Ann Swindell's new novel, Christmas in the Castle Library.
“As leaders, we must cultivate healthy ways to build our resilience in difficult times.”
As leaders, we must cultivate healthy ways to build our resilience in difficult times. My husband and I could choose to let the hardships of ministry steal our joy, but we desire to run our races well. We want to run with endurance in the spiritual marathon God has called us to. So, in the sorrow, we choose to allow joy to coexist.
How will you cultivate resilience this weekend?
You don't need to decorate for Christmas like us. But create space for the one thing that brings you joy today.
In His Love,
Danielle Kelly