If Only My House Looked Like That!
I clicked the link to visit my neighbor at a recent blog party and felt as if I’d entered an alternate universe. The blogger had thrown up some photos of her house and the decorations she had lovingly arranged for the Christmas season. This gal LOVES Christmas decorations. Each of her nine Christmas trees (yep—you read that correctly) would make Martha Stewart weep with joy (or envy).
I did a mental inventory of my Christmas decorations. They haven’t left the confines of the two boxes in our basement storage room. I glance at a calendar. Sure enough, the second week of Advent approaches. The red candle on my desk that I forgot to put away last Christmas hasn’t moved for a year.
Maybe I should light it, even though it has gathered enough Arizona dust to constitute a fire hazard. It looked a little lonely, so I use a sugar packet to prop up one side of my green, pine-scented candle. I feel accomplished now. Even if the burning dust smells a little un-Christmas-y. Jesus understands.
To all the busy people out there, I give you permission to forego the decorations. After all, Mary and Joseph didn’t spend the month before Jesus’ birth decorating a nursery. They had travel plans (as do I). They lived in a country under siege by Roman legions. We live in a country under siege by satan’s legions. Joseph had a good job, but he didn’t live in a palace. I have so much more than 80 percent of the people in the world have—but I certainly don’t have room for nine Christmas trees in my house.
To all the #busy people out there, I give you permission to forego the #Christmas decorations. #advent Click To TweetOnly Questions
As they prepared for the Advent of the Savior, Mary and Joseph didn’t waste time asking questions about how much to spend on gifts. They had more pressing matters on their minds. Could their marriage survive the shock of an out-of-wedlock-pregnancy? Would the babe come before or after meeting the census agent? How exactly does one answer the census question concerning the soon-to-arrive baby’s paternity? Would they have enough money to make it to Bethlehem? Where would they stay when they arrived?
How exactly does one answer the Roman agent's census question concerning the paternity of baby Jesus? #Christmas #Advent Click To TweetDon’t fret if you haven’t decorated your home, your office, or your yard. And if you haven’t baked a gazillion Christmas cookies yet, no one will get hurt. Instead ask yourself questions. Have I made room for Jesus in my life? Jesus doesn’t care about the decorations, the cookies, the lights, or the trees. He only cares about my heart.
Sure, the lights and bows and pretty packages all help to dispel the darkness of short days, cold nights, and the change of the seasons. But letting the Light shine through us seems more important than wrapping lights around the trees. Decorate yourself from the inside out.
Forget Black Friday and Cyber Monday and focus instead on the gifts that really matter: Forgiveness. Acceptance. Hope.
Forget Black Friday and Cyber Monday and focus instead on the only gifts that matter: Forgiveness. Acceptance. Hope #advent Click To TweetBring your humble gifts of broken dreams, hope delayed, and shattered expectations to the one who wants to heal you—He promises to dispel the darkness.
If you have time to decorate like Martha, thank you for sharing your creativity and beauty with the rest of us. But if you don’t have time or energy for Christmas decorations, don’t beat yourself up. Make room for the Savior in your life and celebrate in your heart. That’s all he asks.

Savoring the Savior. THIS IS A GREAT POST. I shared it everywhere and read every word (as in, I did not speed read.)!!!
Thank you, Susan! I appreciate the love!
Anita recently posted…What Should You do When Disaster Lurks Near?
I love every bit of this post, Anita! when it gets down to December 25, the real focal point of Christmas has to be the babe born in Bethlehem and the abundant life He brings.
Visiting you from #30 in fmf.
Amen!
Anita recently posted…What Should You do When Disaster Lurks Near?
Anita, I can tell this is near and dear to your heart. You always write with conviction and freedom. Well said. Does this mean I don’t have to clean my house for Christmas?
Absolutely! Have your kiddos do all the cleaning ;).
Anita recently posted…What Should You do When Disaster Lurks Near?
That is all he asks and it is enough!
Amen!
Anita recently posted…The Only Decorations You Need This Christmas
very challenging anita! thanks
Thanks for stopping by, Martha!
Anita recently posted…Chilling and Warming Stories for December Nights
Thanks for this. I have never been a big decorator for Christmas. I enjoy seeing them elsewhere, but I don’t enjoy putting them up much in my house. In fact a few years ago I never did really decorate much, and since no one else in the family was inclined, we did without decorations. We all survived and had a nice Christmas.
Theresa Boedeker recently posted…Life as it Comes #41 | Houdini, the Furry Escape Artist
It’s nice to know I’m not alone in my ‘enjoy-them-but-don’t-bother-with-them’ take on Christmas! If I had nothing else to do (ok, or only ONE full-time job), I’d probably be more excited about decorating, because I DO love beautiful things.
Anita recently posted…The Only Decorations You Need This Christmas
feeling a bit dusty myself, thanks for this! might just haul the half empty boxes back upstairs and light a candle. i might even let the children do all the baking while i read about real Christmas.
Oh, having kids baking while I read Christmas stories sounds wonderful!
Anita recently posted…The Only Decorations You Need This Christmas
Great post, Anita! Decorating can be fun but I can’t imagine having the space for 9 Christmas trees or the time to decorate them! It’s good to enjoy these things but important that they don’t distract us from what it’s all really about. As you say, the reality of Christmas was very different for Mary and Joseph.
Lesley recently posted…A Trio Of Book Reviews
One of these days, I’ll stack a couple of tumbleweeds, spray-paint them silver, and decorate them with my sand dollar collection and white lights for Christmas ;). I hate having to pay big bucks for an evergreen, so this is my money-saving plan for the future! Maybe I could even make nine of them :D.
Anita recently posted…Chilling and Warming Stories for December Nights
Wow—wouldn’t we all love to receive these gifts??? “Forgiveness. Acceptance. Hope.” Definitely. And to give them? I’ll keep working on that. What a great post, Anita. I’ll share too. I barely got one tree put up this year, and absolutely no gifts under it yet. Will work on that next week. 🙂
Lisa notes recently posted…Top 10 Books of 2017
I’ve purchased gifts for out of town people, but our ‘gift’ this year will be experiencing Christmas with our grandson in Alaska (not sure what to think about those 4 hour days yet!). I also want to remember to give the gift of acceptance, forgiveness, and hope. Even to people who annoy me ;).
Anita recently posted…The Only Decorations You Need This Christmas
Yes, yes, yes! No guilt over foregoing the Christmas decorations. I love to decorate for Christmas. I love pulling out each ornament from year’s past and reminiscing over family memories, but this year we are packing up all our belongings as we get ready to move. People keep asking if I’m sad that I can’t decorate but, as I said to a friend last night, I’m actually enjoying the lack of adornment in my home. Maybe I’ll see Jesus more clearly this year. Happy Advent.
Patti
Patricia Krank recently posted…Woodland Christmas in the Den & a Special Treat too!
Happy Advent to you, too, Patti! It’s kind of freeing to not decorate ;). I’ll spend my time making almond roca with your recipe, instead!
Anita recently posted…The Only Decorations You Need This Christmas
Anita, hello! Thanks for your gentle reminder about what matters most and the need to let loose all that would make us frazzled.
In stillness of spirit, there is peace. Advent blessings to you and those you love …
Linda Stoll recently posted…Belong * Advent Whispers
Thank you, Linda!
Anita recently posted…Chilling and Warming Stories for December Nights
Anita, what a lovely, refreshing post! I love the emphasis to make room for Jesus and let Him change my heart so that I can give the gifts of love and hope and joy to others.
Blessings to you! xo
Fully agree with you and feel sad about all the time and effort and money spent on really fancy, co-ordinated room decor when simple is better and gives our minds more time to think on the better things.
This is the perfect call to be imperfect. I will admit this is the first Christmas in about four years that I have even felt like decorating. When you lose both of your parents and your sons get married, you wonder who you are decorating for.
This sums it up beautifully —–>Make room for the Savior in your life and celebrate in your heart. That’s all he asks.
Mary Geisen recently posted…In the Stillness