Holiday Perfectionism :: LET IT GO

Perfectionism  

-noun

definition: the demand for the highest standard of excellence. 

I know some sure-fire ways to lose your Christianity during the holidays

(because I have done this a time or two myself) and here they are:

give yourself and everyone else unrealistic expectations, 

put unreasonable demands upon your budget, home, and family, 

AND

place extra pressure on this time of year to out-perform the rest of the year.

Why do we put so much pressure on the holidays to live up to 

some sort of higher standard than the rest of the days of the year?

Who sets the requirements for the Christmas season?

What happened that we allow Pinterest, HGTV, decorating blogs, BHG, or

Martha Stewart to decide our version of perfection?

Where have our priorities ended up that we are more worried about

traditions, gift giving, togetherness, religious celebrations, decorating, sleigh rides, and baking

than we are the reason for why we do it all?

How can we keep our focus on what's truly important this time of year?

I believe we need to wake up every morning 

and remind ourselves of what really happened.

Remember Mary and Joseph?

They were travelling, probably with few possessions and enough food and money to be able to 

register for the census in Bethlehem and make it back home to Nazareth.

Their plans didn't include shopping for gifts,

baking 12 dozen cookies and a ham (definitely NOT a ham),

or stringing lights on a Christmas tree.
The closest they got to spending time with lots of people together under one roof

was at the inn where they were turned away 
because there was no bed or breakfast available for them.

I've heard that there wasn't even a Hobby Lobby in Bethlehem!

My goal this season is to be less worried about perfectionism
and more focused on the Perfect One.
How about you?