The holidays are almost here. Some of you have already started decorating and some of you are behind (like me). What usually happens in my household on Thanksgiving is my mom cooks for the good part of the morning until around one when all the food is ready. Then we sit down and eat and enjoy each other's company. My aunts and uncles and cousins and grandmas always come over, but last year plans didn't work out and the only ones celebrating at my house was my parents, my sister, and me. It looks like it's going that way again this year and probably for the rest of the holidays.

Holidays are a big deal to me. I love to clean the house for everyone coming over, I love to help cook the food, and I love when everyone comes over. It's tradition. And it really bums me out when traditions are broken. I also hate change and when things don't go as planned (like everyone coming over). I absolutely hate it.

I recently got a job and it's my first time working during the holidays. It turns out that I'm going to have to work on Black Friday (which I assumed I would have to), and that didn't bother me until I realized that my family's holiday tradition is going to be broken after many, many years.

My family always puts up the tree and the decorations for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. It's our thing and it's what we do. Because of my work schedule I won't get to really put up all the decorations. This really bums me out because as I've said, I hate change. Black Friday is the day the trees go up and the lights go on the house. That is what the day is for. I completely hate the fact that it's going to be different this year. But I realized something.

It doesn't matter when the tree goes up. It doesn't matter when the lights go on the house. It doesn't matter when Christmas cards are sent out or when the holiday baking commences.

It doesn't matter.

Jesus is the reason for the season! The whole point of Christmas is to celebrate Christ and his birth! Everything we do in these two months are to celebrate Him. The tree, food, lights- they're nothing. Not when we get to celebrate the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! It still sucks that traditions are going to be broken, but all of that should be put aside anyway. I remembered this verse from when I was a little kid:

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

Am I still bummed that the holidays aren't going to go along as planned? Yep. But I'm going to be okay because the Lord is with me always, and I will praise him.

Best wishes,
The King's Daughter
Psalm 45:13