I did it! I survived the holidays. I survived the shopping, the gift wrapping, and the endless cooking. The parties have been had, the wrapping paper has been tossed, and the last of the pecan pie is already gone.
Just a few things remain: The joy of the reason for Christmas, happiness from being with my family, and the decorations that adorn the house.
There is one decoration that I am particularly proud of this year, and it is for a reason that I didn't even realize was important, until now. The tree.
For the most part, I am the person who sets up and decorates the tree. If my husband and little boy decorate it with me, I will make the necessary adjustments after they have left the room so that all the ornaments are spaced out nicely and look right. Isn't that what Moms are supposed to do?
I thought about Christmas past, and remembered decorating the tree with my Mom, Dad, and brother. I remember hanging the ornaments, and all of us throwing on so many silver icicles that the tree almost fell over! The more icicles the better, right? I never remember my Mom saying that we didn't do a good job or that she needed to make it look better. Our tree was always beautiful. So this year, when my grandchildren came over and helped with the tree, I sat back and did nothing. I watched as every ornament got placed low on the tree, piled in clusters, hung backward, or as most, completely crooked. I watched as they stood back and looked it over in approval, pleased that they had done well.
Then, as they walked away, I resisted the urge to get up and fix it "my way." In fact, for three whole weeks, I have enjoyed NOT fixing it. Not one single ornament has been moved, and I am just fine with that. Not everything has to be perfect.
Not everything has to be "my way." That is a lesson that I am still learning as the New Year draws closer, and a precept that I am learning that God wants us all to follow.
"It is God's way. Not my way." I'll repeat that. "It is God's way. Not my way." For "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
And he does so for a reason. The heart of man is flawed. Our ways are not like His ways. We make mistakes. We fall away from the Lord. We follow after things that are not of God. But if we will only stop and recognize the need for surrender.
How good it is to relinquish control and allow the Lord to lead us where His will desires. Every way of the Lord is good for us, even when we cannot see or understand His plan. Things may look like a mess, but when we "delight in His way," the Lord has a promise for us, that though we "...fall, we will not be overwhelmed, for the Lord upholds us with His hand." (Psalm 37:24)
What a relief that is! So, "Let your good spirit lead me" into the New Year and beyond. Surrendered and ready to let Your will be done, and not mine." (Psalm 143:10)
