I DON’T HAVE to tell you how the holidays—while sparkling and wonderful and filled with hope and promise—can also be exhausting. This might be particularly true for those of us who tend to do things like, oh, I don’t know…more and more and more, here and there, right up until Christmas morning? And sometimes, even after?

These past few days, that inclination has been taken care of for me.

Sweet baby Posey caught a stomach bug that messed up her system. It traveled then to her daddy, then to her mama, and after about a week, made its way to me.

The impact came fast and furious, which left me with little choice but to take to the bed where for 24 hours, I mostly slept. By Day Two I felt some better but still could only lie there, watching a marathon of cheesy Christmas movies while drinking fizzy coke and feasting on about three, maybe four, saltine crackers. I considered how many years it had been since I’d done anything like that, specifically willing myself to NOT think about the calendar and my long list of Yet-To-Dos and instead to remember THIS IS A CHOICE THAT HAS BEEN MADE FOR ME.

I hated this at first; I proverbially kicked and screamed until my I’m-still-sick body forced me to relent and accept.

Rest, girl. It’s okay. Just rest.

I did rest. And I was reminded that as often as I sometimes act as if it is otherwise, I am not the one who is in charge.

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THAT’S GOOD to keep in mind during this busy, busy season, I think, this time so filled with expectation. Planted in me now is the reminder that when “harried” takes over—particularly over these next few days—what I most need to do is pause. Take a step back. Look around.

Right over there is a sparkling tree with a thousand ornaments, each delivering a wonderful memory or thoughts of a treasured friend; there are presents, lovingly chosen or made, wrapped in pretty paper and ribbons; there are Christmas cards from loved ones near and far and every single one has made me smile. Plans have been made and menus are mostly decided and there is so much Christmas still to come.

And girl, I will remind myself, over and over, as this week unfolds. You have time.

Soak in the moments. Feel the good, feel it in your bones. Let yourself be a part of the celebration, rather than striving to be the architect of it.

That job’s already taken.

There is time.

XXOO

30 Days of Joy

PS: On another bright note, I can now advise on the very best, and very worst, Hallmark-ish movies on Netflix!

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