Everyone is busy.  Especially at this time of the year.  Busy, Busy, Busy!

Really, I do get it.  There is holiday shopping, holiday parades & visits to Santa, parties, cooking, decorating, sending cards (for those who still do that), wrapping and delivering presents, travel plans, holiday programs and worship services, and then there’s all the regular stuff we do.  Some people are working extra hours or extra jobs.  We’re all busy.  I’m retired and I’m still busy.

But, we get too busy and too tired and we forget what we are busy for.  What are we doing all these things for?  Hopefully, it’s to celebrate a season that was born of love and giving and give back to those we cherish the most.  Or show our caring side for people we don’t even know.

I have several groups of friends and individuals that I get together with on a regular basis.  Some of them have said they are too busy to do it this month – wait until a time when we’re not so stretched.  And I understand and feel the same way sometimes.  I guess I’ve had enough loss in my life…my parents, my husband, my son, friends…to know that we should never put off being with the people we care about most.  There is no certainty in life and there is always change.  I wear myself out with the best of you, but I want to know that I’m worn out because I was working towards what means the most to me.

I want to celebrate this beautiful season with those who make my life so rich.  I want to share my happiness with those less fortunate to pay it forward a little bit.  I don’t want to be too busy.  I need to re-evaulate my priorities and see if all this busyness is taking me away from those who mean the most to me.

Lord, that sounds so idealistic.  Who doesn’t want that?  The best I can do is try to make Busy into a good word, a word that shows I’m trying and I care.  I don’t want to hate being busy because it is what keeps me vital.  I want to be busy and balanced at the same time.

That’s what I want for Christmas!  Balanced busyness!