I wonder what holidays each of you celebrate. I wonder what traditions, feelings, and build-up go along with those holidays. My family celebrates Christmas. Often times the build up to Christmas is a large part of the fun, but this year the build-up began a little too early, even for me.

It began in July. That nervous fluttering in my stomach that I get when I worry about all that goes along with Christmas. Why worry about Christmas in July? It all started very innocently on July 4th.

July 4th is my daughter’s birthday.(We call her our firecracker.) The idea of a birthday set my five-year-old son’s mind to work. He asked, “When is my birthday again?” I reminded him that it was in January, just a few weeks after Christmas. “Christmas is good too!” he declared.

Later that evening he began to pray for the expeditious arrival of Christmas, during our family prayers. He asked, “Please God, let Christmas come really fast.” How could God refuse that sweet voice, those blue eyes, that wonderful plea? Should I worry that Christmas was about to come barreling toward me at a rate I couldn’t handle? I wasn’t prepared to begin the long list of tasks. At the same time, I’m an adult, I understand time, and I know that it plugs along at the same rate as it always has, therefore I needn’t worry. Six months was plenty of time.

The next night my son prayed again, Please God, let Christmas come really fast.” Each night since that one in July he has prayed for the same thing. Occasionally he adds a little something like, “Please God, let Christmas and my birthday come really fast.” The flutter in my stomach became concern, and concern grew into nervousness.

Life blazes by me at a pace so incredibly fast as it is, what if my son’s prayers bring on an even faster pace? How will I find time to take the photo, send out the cards, bake the cookies, sing the songs, buy the gifts, wrap the packages, trim the tree, light the candles, build the snowman, call distant relatives, plan the menus, fight the crowds, and do it all with a loving smile?

It hit me, the answer, like an arrow piercing a bull’s-eye. In fact it looked exactly like a red bull’s-eye. The red letters formed in my head, but I didn’t even need to say them, the picture of the red and white logo could be seen from blocks away. I could get it all done at my local bull’s-eye store.

Like the swift, smooth rhymes of a Doctor Seuss book it all came to me. I could find it all there:

The boxes, the ribbons, the bags and the bows.

The movies, the cds, and books lined in rows.

The toys, the puzzles, the bikes, and the balls.

The clocks and the trays and the pictures for walls.

The produce, the dry goods, and even fresh meats,

The dressers, the tables, the lamps, and the seats.

The boxers, the blankets, the t-shirts, and slippers,

the powders, the baskets, and goggles with flippers.

The cups and the saucers, the coffees and teas,

door swags, dried flowers, and small ficus trees.

Beard trimmers, perfumes, toothpaste, and phones,

brushes, and curlers, and soft-soap that foams.

I will be ready! I will be smiling! I will be in the spirit!

Despite the fact that I’d figured it all out, that I began to prepare early, that I had enlisted help, that I worked faster and harder, I still made mistakes, I still forgot things, I still worried, and I still didn’t do it all.

I looked out my window and stared at the lake. No answers came erupting to its surface; no menu ideas, no phone calls, no greeting cards; nothing came from the lake no matter how long I stared. But it did offer me a gift. It gave me a moment to stop, to be still, and to collect myself. That was the gift I had needed. The moment of peace resulted in a new calm that I decided to try to take with me as I ventured toward the holidays.

I decided to take along a few different things than I had previously placed in my shopping cart. I realized that I will definitely forget somebody, inadvertently insult somebody, won’t show enough gratitude to someone gracious, I’ll certainly be late a time or two, and more than likely, I’ll forget to stop and enjoy it all. I hope to bring the gift from the lake along with me through the holidays, reminding me to stop, to be still, and to enjoy the time I have here. And I hope that when I do make mistakes, those around me will forgive me rather than judge me in that moment.

Therefore, I put a few extra things into my shopping cart this year:

Greetings, sincerity, thank-yous, and smiles,

hugs and warm wishes that stretch on for miles,

saying I’m sorry for my mistakes,

feeling alright even though my tree’s fake,

I’ll look at my family filled with joy,

even though I may have bought the wrong toy.

I’ll find kindness, patience, and countless gifts,

and try to set aside any silly old rifts.

Because I would rather be still and filled with peace than to be perfect. Whatever holidays you celebrate, I wish you the gift that water can offer you. I wish you peace. 

Nancy Henke, Editor

By Nancy Henke