We often scurry around like the critters that are stocking up on their food supplies for the winter at this time of year. The holidays are coming up. We have Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and Kwanza, and New Year’s in our sights. Many folks also treat Halloween as if it were a national holiday! We want the holidays to be perfect, so we start buying things in October, or quite often, even earlier in the year, perhaps as early as June or with Christmas in July. I know many people who go to all the sales on December 26th each year to by all of the perfect things that they need for the next year’s holiday celebrations.

And that is just the thing isn’t it? We want our holidays to be perfect. Let’s ask ourselves, is that what our celebrations are all about? Perfection? What do all of those holiday pictures that we see convey to us? Aren’t the holidays about getting together with family and friends? Aren’t they about sharing our stories, our memories, or making new memories with new friends and perhaps new family? Aren’t the holidays about being grateful for so much in our lives? Who said that there has to be anything about perfection? That is the stress and pressure that we put on ourselves because of the photos that we see on our social media accounts or the displays that we see online or in our brick and mortar stores.

And what about those many of us who have such imperfect recollections of our holidays. Perhaps we remember the parent who was always absent, or fights between family or friends, or there not being anyone to celebrate with. The list of imperfections can go on and on. Let us remember all of those who may have really difficult times due to imperfect memories during the upcoming holidays. The truth of the matter is that the holidays can be messy and not perfect! They can still be wonderful despite the messiness.

Let’s take a moment, breathe deep, lean into the messiness, and ask God to help us calm down and relax a bit in the hectic days ahead. Let’s ask God to help us to remember what we are thankful for rather than all of the imperfections that may be lurking in our memories. Let’s ask God to help us to remember to reach out to those who have less than we do, to those who may be hurting around this time of year, and to those who may need a friend or family to join with as we celebrate.