John 16:33 NIV “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Let’s be truly honest: Christmas isn’t only a time of joyful togetherness, ideal gifts, engaging conversations, and warm snuggles by the fireside. In fact, despite all our best efforts, the reality is holidays are messy.
Anytime we come together in large gatherings, whether family or friends, there are complexities bubbling beneath the surface. Our personalities, political views, and past experiences collide with people we sometimes only see once a year. When you add to this the most powerful ingredient, “expectations,” you have now set yourself up for trouble.
One of my favorite holiday art pieces is Norman Rockwell’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (Also called Freedom from Want and Thanksgiving Picture). It was my inspiration for this piece. And while I love his ideal depiction of a family gathered in cheerful delight, my reality has never looked like this.
That’s not to say that this Christmas, or all Christmas’s in the past have been an utter disappointment. There have been uncountable moments of joy in my Christmas celebrations. I’m sure you, too, can stop and think of heartwarming times of the season.
We, however, live most of our lives in the both/and. Meaning we love being around our families, but also get tired of them. We get excited about presents but also are disappointed in what we get. We have a spark of connection to the divine singing “Silent Night” but also feel hollow after an argument with a family member. We savor a hug from a loved one but also ache for the absence of another.
This Christmas, then, I encourage you to acknowledge the both/and. Remind yourself it’s okay to have other feelings and experiences that don’t fit in a Hallmark movie. And also, have fun with this picture – which one are you?
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