Be Gentle With Yourselves

What could be more gentle than a kitten?

I wrote something to a  blogger, in a comment that I want to share, so I remember it. I sometimes sit here and read what people have shared....and think how busy women are at holiday time. Blogs seem to have a way of rushing us into decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking and so on. We end up feeling like we will never get finished and our hearts beat faster, we breathe faster, and we tense up.So many years, I have been sick at Christmas. All from over doing.  I decided to take it a little slower this year....well, for that matter I'm taking everything a bit slower :) It's worked out well for me.

                Christmas plate on little shelf over the kitchen sink.

Some blogger friends have had surgery in the past month, some are dealing with loss, some have extra events like family weddings...and they are especially stressed with all the things that "need" to be done. My comment was, "Be extremely gentle with yourself this Christmas season."I had just read that on the internet that morning. It seemed so appropriate for that moment. I never paid attention to the Christmas plate on the shelf in my kitchen. It tells of the gentle season of Christmas. Gentle in nature and what I'm saying about our lives.

We find that we just can't do it all. Wonder women... we are not. We are not responsible for making everyone happy and making every one's Christmas perfect. We can't make a happy home if we aren't happy. Being gentle with one's self is perfect for this time of year. Take care of ourselves. Why not put ourselves first for a change? I don't think that's a selfish comment. It's hard, I know, with children depending on us. They will survive with a little less....and a happy relaxed mom. The family will survive by helping a stressed mom. Your husband will be happier with a relaxed wife. 

Have you ever sat there in the light of the Christmas tree....when the meal is eaten and the presents opened and think to yourself.....is it over already? It was so much work and now it's over in a flash. The big Christmas let down comes at that time. Maybe your kids are in bed....hubby is snoring in his chair, even the dog and cat are napping, the candles are burning down to the last nub, the kitchen is a mess, wrapping paper on the carpet, and there you sit in a state of wonder. Not the joyous wonder of Christmas, but the wonder of "is that all there is?" 

So, before we get to the actual day....maybe reading this will help some to slow down and only do the things that are going to be remembered. So many things could be let go. Be extremely gentle with yourselves this Christmas season. It only comes once a year. 

Balisha