Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

By: Pat Austin

SHREVEPORT – I am a one-holiday-at-a-time sort of person; don’t talk to me about Christmas until Thanksgiving is over!

But…Thanksgiving is now over; my neighbors were out this weekend hanging lights on their homes and posting pictures of their Christmas trees on social media. On our Christian calendar it is Advent season. The hangings on the altar change color and the Advent wreath appears.

This time of year we are counting the days until Christmas. Our schedules are filled with parties, shopping, finding the perfect gift. The kids pen letters to Santa while adults wrap gifts, plan menus, and hide presents. The children are filled with expectation and energy. As adults we may feel some pressure, some sentimentality, and maybe some stress.

The word “advent” is derived from a Latin word that means “coming.” Yes, Christmas, (and Santa) is coming; the nativity of our Lord is coming, but we also know that Christ is coming again, and we wait for that.

I’ll be honest; I love Christmas, but I’m always glad when it is done. I put up a live tree and I take it down on December 26. I’m one of those people who finds the whole thing stressful. I never have enough money to buy what I want to for people, and I feel a self-imposed pressure about that. I decorate my house, put up a tree, and do the baking because it is expected. I love a pretty tree, but who sees it? We have a very small family, and they all live in another state. My parents are gone, and we no longer have a family Christmas party. It’s all just rather sad and sentimental to me.

So this year I make a vow: I will make a solid effort to enjoy everything that is good about the season. I will attend events at my church, enjoy the children’s Nativity Pageant; I will look at the pretty lights in the neighborhood and I will put up a dang tree.

Years ago, we had a maiden aunt in the family who was on a teacher’s pension and didn’t ever have much money. She purchased what she could for those on her gift list; we called them “Aunt Maude presents.” She would give you a pair of socks. Or a coffee mug. A bottle of maple syrup with a big red bow. A package of hair barrettes. Each gift was thoughtfully selected with love. If she ever felt pressure to spend beyond her budget it never showed.

I might be purchasing Aunt Maude Gifts this year, and I’ll probably still be glad when the season is over, but I am going to make every effort to enjoy the spirit of the season and the true reason for the season!

And a Merry Christmas to you all!