As I was cleaning up in the kitchen, vacuuming the living room floor and throwing away the last bits of torn wrapping paper throughout my house tonight, it was quiet. My extended family had gone home and my husband was upstairs helping the children put away some of their new toys and was getting them ready for bed. I turned off the vacuum cleaner and looked over at the warm, crackling fire in our fireplace and smiled. I was thinking about how wonderful the past few days had been. Attending Christmas Eve Mass with my family, waking up to their happy, excited little faces and sharing great food with the ones I love most. As I turned to head back into my kitchen to shut off the lights, my oldest son came downstairs and wrapped his arms around me and said, “Thank You Mom for making such a nice Christmas for us!” I put my arms around him too and said “You’re Welcome” and thought to myself, this is why I “Do” Christmas.
Every Holiday my family always says, “Oh Shannon, you don’t have to do all of this! It’s so much work.” It is, but I like it and I do it for my family. I have been working a lot lately and I got behind on my normal Holiday baking. The last 2 days before Christmas were like a baking marathon at my house. I baked 6 different types of cookies and made my family’s favorite…homemade pierogi. Time consuming, yes, but always worth it. I stood in my kitchen all day and night, but I got all of it done and ready for Christmas. My feet ached and I was tired, but I finally felt like I could relax a bit. Sure, I could have skipped a few of those homemade cookies and such, but to me Christmas wouldn’t have felt the same at our house.
The truth is, is that spirit and feeling of Christmas is not about the food (although it’s delicious), it’s about love. In a post I wrote a few weeks ago, I talked about how Christmas Cookies are like memories from the time you start preparing them to the time you enjoy them. It’s the sweet memories you have of making them with your grandmother and mother when you pull out that old recipe card and it’s the memories of our loved ones we use to share those great Christmas Cookies with who are no longer with us that we hold near and dear to our hearts. I want my children to have these memories. I want them to have a feeling of what Christmas felt like in our home. When they have children of their own, when they have grandchildren of their own, I want them to remember what it was like to be my child and I want them to remember the love that I felt for them and our family during this special time of year.
This season is truly about preparing for Jesus’ birth, opening our hearts and letting him in. The small things that we do at our home to prepare to celebrate become our family’s traditions. Some day when I am no longer here, I would love for my family to remember the light of this season, and the love that came from our home. I want them to always feel comforted by those warm memories. In that one moment of thankfulness from my son this evening, I realized exactly why I “Do” Christmas.
I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas with your families. Have you had a quiet moment to reflect? Why do you “do” Christmas?
Your thoughts on Christmas were beautiful. Traditions are what keeps our hearts happy but especially at Christmas when our minds go back to those “good old days” of our very own childhood. I too am Polish, can you one day publish your Pierogi recipe. I once made them with my Mom, who has been gone now for 8 years and I sure would love to have your recipe. Thanks so much. A happy and healthy 2015 to you and your family.
Thank you Chris! I will try to publish that recipe someday soon. I hope you and your family have a wonderful start to the New Year too! 🙂
These are beautifully put thoughts on making Christmas memories, Shannon. I think as long as you are enjoying what you do and love is at the center, you’re celebrating in a good way.
For me, Christmas includes baking, but the moment I start to feel panicked, it’s time to step back. Yesterday I enjoyed getting down on the floor and playing with my kids and their new gifts. Presence means so much more than presents. Thanks for sharing this post!
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Hi Julia! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas:) Yes definitely- presence means so much more than presents! I love that! That’s what we did yesterday. Played with our children and let everything else wait. I do hate that panicky feeling and you’re right, it does ruin things that may have started out nicely. That’s when you know to stop. Enjoy your weekend!