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The Family Room by Michelle Martin

December 21, 2008

Looking like Christmas

Two weeks before Christmas, and I’m not in the Christmas spirit.

I haven’t been humming carols or dreaming of sugarplums. I haven’t dozed off in front of holiday movies or curled up with holiday classics like “A Christmas Carol.” I haven’t wished anyone “Merry Christmas” yet, or even “Happy Holidays.”

I have lit the candles on the Advent wreath, and prayed with my kids.

I have attended Our Lady of Guadalupe festivities and Masses.

I have gone to the archdiocesan posada. So maybe I could say I’m in the Advent spirit.

I’m waiting and preparing.

Many of those preparations — especially the most obvious ones — are for Christmas. I’ve been Christmas shopping, and we’ve bought and put up our Christmas tree. The kids now do most of the ornament-hanging work (between Caroline getting older, and us maintaining the tradition of buying short trees, she can reach the top branches almost as well as I can). Frank even helped with the lights this year.

I like the old-fashioned idea of waiting to put up the tree on Christmas Eve, but between family Mass at 4:30 p.m. and Midnight Mass (which is usually at 10 or 11 p.m. now) plus a family party, that doesn’t seem likely to happen.

I’ve baked dozens of cookies and lots of other holiday treats, which are slowly disappearing. Most of them will be gone by the time the round of holiday parties is over at New Years. The Christmas cards are ready to go, once we put stamps on and mail them. Most of the shopping is done, although by tradition, my husband or I will have to go out for one last gift on Christmas Eve.

But somehow, Christmas has not yet overwhelmed me this year. I’m not giddy with anticipation or heavy with dread of everything that has to be done. I’m thinking more about the Nativity, the “reason for the season.”

I haven’t seen many other people consumed with Christmas frenzy this year. Maybe it’s because of all the bad economic news.

My kids aren’t asking Santa for as much this year, or coming up with new wants every day. Maybe it’s because they are getting older. I’d like to think it’s because they are coming to understand Christmas isn’t all about the presents.

In any case, Christmas is coming. It will come whether I’m ready for it or not. Its meaning will not change if the cookies are not iced or if the tree is a little lopsided (and, truth be told, it is.)

When we reach Christmas Eve, I’ll hear both my kids singing in their school choir at family Mass. Later, I’m scheduled to read at Midnight Mass. Christ will be born again.

Christmas morning, all the presents that I haven’t yet wrapped will be opened, and my family will have some time to enjoy one another and the gifts we have received.

We’ll remember then what the greatest gift is, and why we give all the smaller ones.

Martin is assistant editor of the Catholic New World. Contact her at [email protected].