December 4, 2004

I’M LATE. I’M VERY, VERY LATE!



Sound familiar?  The Mad Hatter of Alice in Wonderland ran around
yelling that in great frustration all through the story.  But it is my cry a
lot of the time too.  Like Parson’s Wife for December – it’s late, not
very, very – but late none the less.  And as I really struggled
deciding what to write this month, as the article got tardier with each
passing day, I found that much too often in December I seem to be behind. 
Ring in any bells with you?

Why is that?  Well, I think there are two reasons: first we schedule
too many things to do; and second, with that schedule comes way too many
deadlines by which to measure our “on time quotient”.  And so what’s
the solution?  Easy – schedule fewer things!!  Sure, easy to say but
seemingly impossible to do in December because of the demands put on us
internally and by others – family, friends, work, church, home decorating,
baking, entertaining, etc.  But perhaps with a new outlook and maybe
some Christmas “resolutions”, we could help each other “declutter” and
simplify our holiday and still have time to celebrate Jesus and enjoy the
time spent with each other.

Perhaps “less is more” could be our theme this year – from the number
of gifts we buy / make and wrap; the batches of cookies we bake; the
invitations we extend and the number we accept. Take a moment to look at
the big picture – the whole month of December.  Which events do you
really want to participant in?  Then, make only those things your priority
– giving attention to the ones you enjoy because of the people you will
be with, and the surroundings where you will find yourselves.  Don’t be
trapped by what someone else may determine as a priority for you, but
prayerfully consider your calendar and join in those things that will
give Jesus honor.  After all, who is this holiday for anyway?

As a wife, mother and the Parson’s wife too, entertaining had in
earlier days been a high priority for me.  But with the boys gone, my
physical limitations and a much smaller church now, though my love for
entertaining has not dimensioned, my reason and ability to do so has.  But
even still, I find myself baking way too many cookies, buying too many
unnecessary gifts, trying to do too much decorating and getting caught in
that cycle of always feeling, I’m late, I’m late!

God reminds us to “Be still and know that I am God.”  How can we do
that during this time of year? We should really be doing this so much more
fervently now than at any other time!  Let’s choose to re-evaluate our
December commitments and take time to share the real reason for the
season with the people we spend our time with; by the gifts we give; and
most of all by the time we spend celebrating Jesus!!

Merry Christmas to each one of you and may each day be a blessing to
you and yours.

Until next time … love and prayers,

RuthAnn Gleason, the Parson's Wife
ragleason@sbcglobal.net