Don't go stressin', go blessin'

I love this time of year. Family gatherings, turkey, ham, and all the fixings. And of course, the desserts. NFL football while we eat and fellowship. A time of thanksgiving, a time to reflect. Among the traditions of the Robbins household will be the putting up of the Christmas tree. I am not sure, I think it is the day after Thanksgiving, rather than the day of. Only two of our kids, Tina and Shane, share in the erecting of the family tree. And although they are now grown and moved out, we wait on them to put it up. An addition is Zachary, our grandson. He loves to help decorate. Friday is another part of the tradition... Black Friday. Going to the malls, fighting the crowds, shopping for the bargains. Yay, what fun!

Yes, we love it. It is quality time with our family, and we enjoy the moments. The tables will be different this year, minus some spots. At mom's house, dad won't be there. He passed away in March. And as we sit at our table, Michael will not be here. My son in law passed in July. I am sure our celebrations and fun will be tempered somewhat. What I would give to be able to turn back the clock one more time for them. But no, life goes on.

I know that our family is not alone. Not in the traditions, nor the festivities. Not in the joys, nor the sorrows. You can probably identify. The holidays are great times of blessings. But they are also times when the stress level gets high. Busyness leads to tiredness. Stress can easily elevate in shopping lines when you neither have the money nor the patience for your purchase. In the midst of it all, take a breath. Say a prayer, enjoy the moments. These times are precious.

And don't go stressin', go blessin'!