“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
-Luke 2:10
I’m grinning from ear to ear, as I stand before a room of wiggly little three year old preschoolers merrily singing, “He brought joy, joy, joy to the world, He brought joy, joy, joy to the world. A little bitty baby in Bethlehem, brought joy, joy, joy, to the world”. Their tiny faces are filled with wonder and excitement, as they sing about the birth of our Lord. Even though I’m smiling, I’m hurting on the inside.
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Written with Laurie Copeland (www.lauriecopeland.com)
What does hearing the word “Christmas” bring to mind? Caroling and joyful family reunions—or last-minute gift searches and fights with your kids?
As a recovering perfectionist, I’ve had many celebrations that fell short of my expectations. That led to disappointment, discontent, and sometimes depression. (Not a great way to start the New Year!) But now I realize that perfectionism is a dangerous hobby—a Grinch who can only steal my joy if I let him.
Here are the top six expectations the Grinch brings, followed by the more-likely-to-happen realities:
- 6. Your grandkids will help decorate the house while listening to Bing Crosby.
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I was utterly exhausted. Our toddler, Jackson, had been waking up at night for weeks, and my system was totally out of whack. I felt weepy, helpless, and cranky.
When we tried to let Jax “cry it out,” even for just two minutes, he got so upset that he actually threw up. Talk about frustrating! I tried putting music in his room, giving him a teddy bear, even sleeping with him–and nothing seemed to work, at least for long. Whatever the reasons, he got into the habit of “night-waking.” And I didn’t know what to do! (By the way, my husband Carey was a great help.
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