Tip of My Iceberg

This is not something I particularly enjoy. Not something I look forward to

Putting Christmas away. Even writing that seems sad.

There’s the cleaning up of the decorations and the tree trimmings. Packing them away for another year. Getting all the bins back in the attic. Me dangling from the hole in the garage ceiling as John passed up bin after bin.

The tree itself was dry as bone. Granted, I hadn’t checked the water level in the last week and a half, but it wasn’t drinking huge quantities any more. It recognized it was dead and was giving up its ghost. I just didn’t expect it to be given up so quickly. Getting the tree out of the house resulted in more needles on the floor than on the tree. Expected. Not appreciated.

I loved that tree. It was full and tall. The kids said it looked pregnant because of one area on it where it poked out like a tummy. But it was a lovely tree, wafting fragrance through the house and shining it’s lights on us during the Christmas season.

A season it is. I walked into my local big box store yesterday to pick up a few food items and found Valentine’s Day being heralded.

I’m so not ready for Valentine’s Day.

My heart wasn’t very happy.

It all feels so rushed. All the things I love about Christmas seem to have drifted away like so many tropical clouds in a windstorm. All the kindness and charitable generosity of the Christmas season has turned into the stress and pressure of the new year. Tax ads are everywhere. CPA’s are in their glory. People are banking on tax returns to help them pay for their lavishness over the holidays. Parents have had enough of school vacation. Children have had enough of parents. The sweet temperaments of pre-Christmas obedience, anticipating gifts, has given way to entitled attitudes and grousing about anything petty.

Jolly.

And now we’re to focus on making hearts happy with flowers and candy.

In a month and a half.

I want a slow button. A reminder to live today, not thinking about what has to be done tomorrow. Not worrying about what won’t–and may not–happen for awhile. Being present with people who are here today. Recognizing that this is the day I’ve been given. There are no guarantees for tomorrow. To live with intention the time I have now.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”   Psalm 118:24

God has given me today. To live and enjoy and do what I do with all that I am. Full out, full on, eyes wide open. Doing it with intent and heart.

Christmas is done for the year. Valentine’s Day will come. But today–well, today is God’s gift to me. I want to fill it to the brim with what matters. With those who matter. Make it a day worth remembering. In the small and simple things. The daily and mundane. Be present with today’s stuff. Today’s people.

And be glad I did it.