Christmas – It’s Just One Day

It’s just one day.

We all know that about Christmas, yet we still obsess over what time is best to go to the supermarket, to avoid the frantic crowds. We stress over whether we will have enough money to fund all the present-buying that is necessary and panic that we might be ill on The Big Day.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas, always have. The first few weeks in December are my favourite – advent calendars, sparkly decorations, planning menus, choosing gifts and watching cheesy Christmas movies. In fact I almost prefer those activities and the excitement they bring, more than the day itself.

But what happens when the ‘magic’ isn’t quite there?

In our house, the run up to Christmas 2018 hasn’t been the way the adverts suggest that it should be. Christmas day is unlikely to be the dream that we all conjure up, the one we imagine everyone else is having, but you know what? I’m okay with that.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been on a gratitude journey (head to my Instagram Stories for a peak). It has helped me no end and I want to continue this theme over Christmas and beyond. I would encourage anyone whose Christmas looks set to be a little ‘different’ this year, to do the same.

My prayer for Christmas 2018, is that we’re able to focus on the people who are around our tables, rather than those who aren’t.

That we forget about the Christmas cards we didn’t write and concentrate on the people we showed love to every other day of 2018.

That we find joy in the simplest of things – twinkly lights, smiling faces, the smell of mince pies and someone else offering to do the washing up!

That we breathe in deeply and have a moment to reflect.

If you’re going into Christmas 2018 feeling a little deflated, disappointed and lacking in festive spirit, please listen to this song and remember that it really is just one day.

The true meaning of Christmas is for every day.