FAR FROM PERFECT!

Something must be wrong with me!  Every picture I see posted on social media, every Hallmark Christmas movie I watch, and every television commercial currently on continuous repeat seem to point to the way Christmas should look.  Perfection in motion!  The family all loves one another and would never think of not being together for the big day.  The decorations are all "House Beautiful" creations with a Martha Stewart flare which transforms the house into a Christmas Wonderland.  The dinner is a proverbial feast of gourmet culinary delights.  Under glass, flame thrown, braised, demi-glazed offerings to tickle the palette.  And of course, each participant and every gift wrapped and dressed in their seasonal finery.  Move over Dickens--Christmas is NO Bah Humbug according to the wide world of media presentations!



My Christmas does not even begin to resemble this offering of utopia!  It would be easier to pull together representatives from every nation in the world than to get us all together at the same time.  Everyone is BUSY!  Everyone has long lists of things they need to do and want to do and making time for a family get together is no easy task.  I am happy that we manage to get together for a day or two a year--no matter what time of the year.  This out of focus picture is a great simile for trying to pull us all together.



As for the decorations, I have seen the pictures on Social Media of how lovely many of your homes are decorated.  I tend to go with what I have had for a LONG time!  My tree is decorated so the little ones can undecorate and redecorate the bottom every time they walk in the door.  Most of the decorations have long and precious memories associated with them.  It would
not make a great magazine spread, but it does make me smile every time I walk in the door.



The Christmas feast more closely resembles a dyslexic smorgasbord for picky eaters.  The choir sings, "I Don't Like That" and "Yucky" in seasonal harmony when new dishes are introduced.  We seem to eat the same old favorites year after year.  Tried and true is our culinary theme.




As for our dress and gift wrappings, we are extremely pleased when everyone is covered with some form of clothing and the wrappings never stay on the gift long anyway!

NO---there is no Perfect Christmas here---FAR from it!

Long--long ago on that first Christmas---the conditions were less than ideal too.  Following an extremely long walk and donkey ride, a dirty stable filled with smelly animals were not ideal conditions for child birth.  Straw makes for not such a soft bed and strips of cloth are not the finest of dress.  The power was off and only stars provided light--thank goodness for that extra bright one!  Just when a nap was needed in came the nosy neighbors to gaze upon the new baby.  FAR from perfection in the eyes of man.

Perfection is not necessary to produce true beauty.  The elements which produce the most beautiful are not tangible, but instead have everything to do with the intangible.  The wonder, the beauty, the perfection was seen through the eyes of the beholder.  The eyes which gaze beyond the superficial to the eternal.  My Christmas wish is that you gaze upon the perfection and wonder of the true meaning of Christmas this year--not the vision of the eye, but instead the feast of the heart.


And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of  grace and  truth.
John 1:14

5 comments

  1. Yes ... too true ... advertising media and the skills of marketing make us all aspire to perfection. The perfect family, in a perfect house, with perfect food and drinks and presents for everyone. I remember once, working for a large organisation in the Marketing and Sales Department; we were discussing our next big advertising campaign; my boss asked me which tactics I preferred. I replied: "The orange ones!"

    I did not last long in that job.

    God bless.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for my first laugh of the day, Victor !
      Blessings !

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  2. Less from perfection here and I wouldn't want it any other way, friend. Have a lovely day.

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    Replies
    1. Can you imagine trying to stay on that tight rope ?
      Blessings!

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    2. No, no, I can't...sigh--I know of family on both sides who do...frightening, truly it is.

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Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!