Who’s thinking about Christmas?
Some of my friends have already put up their trees and other holiday decorations. I’m one of those people who doesn’t do anything until at least the day after Thanksgiving, but with all these posts showing up in my email inbox —20 Stocking Stuffers to Knock Your Socks Off (I made that one up, but if it’s out there, I’ll read it!)—and advertisements for this year’s top gifts (Anybody getting an Oura ring?)—I, too, am itching to get this show on the road.
Yesterday an advertisement for a miniature chainsaw came across my feed. “Man, I wish I had a chainsaw,” I thought.
Just last week a huge storm blew through our city, and covered my backyard in a fury of sticks, leaves, and at least two small(ish) uprooted trees.
That chainsaw would have come in handy.
But then reality set in. I’ve never used any kind of saw—be it a hacksaw, circular saw, buzz saw, jigsaw, or hand saw, let alone a chainsaw—big OR small.
What was I thinking?
The tiny saw, however, made me feel like I could do something. It was manageable. I might even be so bold as to use the word approachable, although as I type this I’m thinking “approachable” might not be a great adjective to use when talking about a chainsaw. That’s the stuff horror movies are made of.
But I digress….
I think we can all agree that 2020 hasn’t been the year we had hoped. All our plans for holiday get-togethers and celebrations look different than we imagined. And if you’re anything like my family—you like to do holidays big. I get it. I feel sad about that, too.
But seeing the tiny chainsaw in my news feed reminded me that there are small, useful, beautiful versions of just about every big thing that’s out there.
And sometimes the smallest celebrations are the most memorable.
Here’s a “little” glimpse of what we’re doing this year:
Instead of running our usual Turkey Day 5K, which is 3.1 miles, I’ve convinced my daughter to do a 1.3 mile neighborhood run in honor of her 13th birthday, which this year also happens to fall on Thanksgiving day. She’s stoked!
I love a nice, fall bonfire, but lately, my husband and I have just been enjoying the cozy fireplace on our back porch. We used to long for the day when it would be “just the two of us” and now that our kids are getting older, we’re getting a tiny glimpse of that special time.
I’m sad there will be no large holiday party at our house this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t see our friends at all. Sharing a meal together fosters intimacy, and we’ve been really intentional about inviting other couples over for dinner on the weekends. A few candles, a fancy place setting—and voila—instant festivity!
I pray your holidays are filled with joy. Look out for unexpected experiences that inspire gratitude. You may be surprised to find that choosing to pay attention to all the good little things in your life makes a big difference in your attitude—and your gratitude.
In honor of the mini chainsaw, this Benjamin Franklin quote seems doubly apt:
“Little strokes fell great oaks.”
Just because you can’t do something big doesn’t mean you can’t do anything at all. There’s a reason why they say “a little goes a long way.” How are you adjusting your expectations in this season? What small step will you take toward making a BIG difference in your little sphere of influence?