Tis the Season to be Grinchy
Surviving the holidays as a non-believer
A couple years ago, I found myself the perfect Christmas hat. It was pretty much your standard plush Santa hat. Except the white fluffy brim was embroidered with elegant cursive writing. It said “Bah, Humbug”.
Predictably, it didn’t fit me.
If it had fit my head, it would have perfectly fit my personality this time of year. I put up this gorgeous tree, full of gorgeous decorations that I’ve made myself. Seriously, I could probably enter it into a contest and win a prize of some sort. Bah, humbug. I make delicious food this time of year — cookies, caramel corn, decidedly evil alcoholic eggnog, chocolate covered pretzel wreaths, our family recipe of sweet potato casserole. Bah, humbug. My boys, particularly my youngest, just love Christmas with all the starry eyed delight of the anticipation of presents, presents, presents! Bah, humbug.
I should be honest with myself, and let myself feel things, rather than following my natural inclination to bury all negative emotions beneath a mountain of busy work, smiles, and sarcasm. You see, I know what’s wrong. I miss my Christianity this time of year.
It’s not God. I never miss him. But I miss my family. I miss sharing this joyful season with them in the way that only our shared religion…
