Every conversation I have had in the last week has included the big question of the season . "What are you giving (insert your kids, husband, mother-in-law, or kids' teachers) for Christmas." So for the next week I am going to post some ideas for simple gifts for your friends, family, teachers and kids. A few wonderful guests will be coming by The Celebrated Family blog to share their hearts and ideas, so stay tuned.
About a week ago I gave out my first Christmas present. It was a gift to myself. I decided to give myself 10 minutes. Ten minutes to be late to everything. Okay, those of you who know me are laughing and thinking " Is that ten minitutes in addition to the 15 mintutes you are normally late?" Well maybe. Maybe I will be 25 minutes late to everything this season. Maybe I will be only 10 minutes late. The heart of my gift is grace. The grace to say to myself, "It's okay. You're doing your best."
Most mornings I run around the house like White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, screaming "We are going to be late! We are going to be late!" My frazzled kids run to the car and off we go. What a way to start the day. For the next 25 days, we are just not doing that. We are going to linger over cuddles and cheerios. Emily is going to get the time to try to put on her shoes herself. We are just going to be late, and I am going to be okay with that. That is my gift. I can't tell you how excited I am about it. Frankly, I should have given myself this gift a long time ago.
Amid all the Christmas preparations, don't forget you. Is there a gift you should give yourself this year? Whether it's accepting those things that never seem to get done, the permission to say no to the things you don't want to do, or just drawing yourself a bubble bath, I hope you will bless yourself with a Christmas gift this year. When you do, let me know what it is. I'm always looking for good gift ideas.
2 comments:
I love that you thought of yourself first. I just saw an interview with Elizabeth Gilbert and she said something to the effect of "When you are giving and you yourself are empty, that's what you pass on" that could totally be paraphrased wrong but I think her point is made. We all put so much on our plate we lose site of what we really want. I have recently acquired the word "no" and also the ability to not feel guilty over saying it (mostly). How liberating.
As for gift giving I wish I some sage gift advice. I think I will steal the bubble bath though.
i think the best thing you can give yourself (especially for Christmas) is Grace.
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