Christmas Rush

Rush, rush, rush.  It's unbelievable how easily I can be put into a bad mood this time of year.  And that's saying a lot because I am as romantically in love with the Christmas season as Ebenezer Scroog's nephew.  I love everything about Christmas, including the shopping, listening to Christmas songs on the radio, colder weather, the sights, sounds, and smells of the season.  So I kicked myself when I blew my stress gasket today.

I was walking into a store this afternoon to buy a side item for my Dirty Santa gift, which is going to be epic this year.  It's a tribute to rednecks everywhere, and I personally hope my brother Chris gets stuck with it, but that's another story.  Anyway, I got a phone call.  Within a few seconds I learned that the dog had peed on the carpet right by the Christmas tree.  In a split-second my mood went from gay and lively (let's put a ten spot in the bell ringer's pot) to grrrrrr and livid (Merry what?)

I mean, time is money!  Time is so limited, especially in my life.  With everything going on in my life, between the book deal and all that is involved in that, a new baby, the school year not ending until the 21st, I still had some "T's" to cross and some "I's" to dot before Christmas could officially arrive.  That's putting it lightly.  With Christmas three days away, I was kind of counting on getting everything polished off this afternoon so I could kick back and relax the next two days leading up to it.  Now, the dog had put a kink in that plan.

So I became cross.  Nat King Cole turned into Rob Zombie in my mind.  I won't dispense with the particulars, but suffice it to say that my Christmas spirit went out the door.  That's too bad because I had spent the day with sugar plums dancing in my head, even when changing a dirty diaper! 

So I went home and took care of the mess in a less-than-giving mood, but after I left in a huff, I checked myself.  I knew that I was better than that, and if Christmas teaches me nothing more, it should remind me that part of the enjoyment of the season should be in slowing down, taking deep breaths, and thanking God for all that I have, including His love.  I mean, here I am on the first of seventeen straight vacation days where I get to spend time with my family and celebrate the birth of my savior.  What can be better than that?  I even recall a few years ago, getting out for summer break and wishing it was Christmas break instead.  That says something.

So I improved my attitude immediately and apologized to those I love the most who had to endure me.  I also pledged to take things more slowly this Christmas season, to not get upset when everything doesn't go my way, because it's easy to get caught up in the rush, rush, rush, and lose what really matters.  I hope your Christmas is a wonderful one, and I hope you have the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the true reason for the season!  God bless you all!