Christmas thoughts

Has anyone else noticed that most Christmas stress is created by ourselves? Each year I HAVE to: send cards, make cookie plates, deliver plates, decorate, purchase gifts (includes Matt's help), wrap said presents, figure out our travel plans, and so on and so on. Matt helps with much of this, which is great but I still think, "This stress I'm feeling is being produced by me." What's the drive to do all of this? Why is this important? Why do I rush myself, purchase so much, and try to get all of this completed?

Then, revelation. Singing songs that you only get to sing once a year (Silent Night isn't the same in July nor is Jingle Bells), writing cards to family far away hoping all is well with them, and wishing people a Merry Christmas (and meaning it!). This evening we delivered cookies plates to our neighbors in our little apartment complex. Of the 7 plates we delivered: 2 went to families of four or more living in a two-bedroom apartment in which just Matt and I are cramped, one went to a dad with his two sons and another to a dad and his son that he sees only on the weekend (the son answered the door, saw me and said "Yes, ma'am?" Tough kid...), another went to a lady who has devoted her entire life to God and helping the helpless, a lady who just lost her job, and a shut-in lady. On any other Sunday evening, we wouldn't have seen them. We go inside our apartments, complain about the noise of our neighbors (!), and forget that we all sometimes need a friendly smile. Life can be hard, it can wear you down, but sometimes all we need to make life better is a plate of Christmas cookies!