Overload! When things get overloaded, they crash. If you overload a trailer with too much material the axels will bend or break. If you overload a shelf, it will come crashing down. If you overload a computer, it will crash and then you are in trouble. I feel like I am in holiday overload and before it is all over with, I am going to crash and crash hard.
I know some of you are thinking what in the world is he talking about. He has done lost his mind. But stop for a moment and think with me before you jump to making an evaluation of mental state of mind.
The truth is we will prepare and celebrate three major holidays. If we start on Thanksgiving Day and go to New Year’s Day there are 36 days, and don’t forget to throw the biggest of them all – Christmas in the midst and I tell you we have holiday overload.
Think about how much we cram into those 36 days. First there is preparation for Thanksgiving. A holiday that many families get together and have a large meal that takes days of preparation and work, and don’t forget that clean up and put up (fall decoration) have to be immediate, because you have Christmas decorations waiting in the wings to be put everywhere. I have noticed in recent years many people are avoiding the fall decorations and going straight to Christmas.
Holiday overload! The next day you immediately begin preparations for Christmas – you have to factor in Black Friday. Well, when you think about it Black Friday is now beginning on Thanksgiving Thursday.
This was brought home to our family this year when Lisa’s nephew and his family were unable to attend Thanksgiving at our house for the first time because he is an assistant manager for a large office retail store.
After Thanksgiving the next 28 days are filled with numerous parties, multiple family gatherings, shopping, and somewhere in this one has to work to be able to pay for all the refreshments, food, and gifts to make this a festive time.
Several years ago, Lisa and I went from Thanksgiving Day to Christmas Day where both of us were at home together only two nights. There were nights where she was at home and I was at some event, there were nights I was home and she had some party or special event to attend. After that year I told her we needed to adopt the Nancy Reagan slogan “Just say no”.
After Christmas everyone begins to work at taking down and putting up decorations and begin to get ready for New Year’s Day. This may include the after Christmas sales that one has to make. You know we can’t pass up those great deals. It may also include preparation for another large family gathering, and don’t forget working into your schedule the football bowl games that week.
The truth is by this time many of us have crashed and crashed hard. We don’t want any more parties, no more family gatherings, no more ham, no more turkey, no more shopping, and no more people. We are in a foul attitude.
We have become grouchy, discontent, ornery, and no one wants to be around us. This is a sad state to be in, because all three holidays are opportunities to be reminded of and be able to practice our Christian faith.
Thanksgiving – a time to stop and reflect on how we are a blessed people and to use this time to thank God for what he has done for us.
Christmas – a time to remember what Jesus has really done for us. He left heaven and became a man to live a sacrificial life and die for our sins, so that we might be able to have peace with God.
New Years – time to begin anew. It is nothing magical but a time to reflect and evaluate the past year and make good and positive plans for the year to come.
Well with the Lord’s help, and remembering the positive about these three holidays I can survive the holiday overload and maybe, just maybe, I won’t crash too hard.
