You just got word. Everyone's coming to your house for the holidays. Exciting? Maybe. "Over the river and through the woods" sounds good on Spotify, but the reality is that even though you love the holidays and your family, combining both under the same roof—your roof—seems much more of a challenge than a joy.
I like the idea of family gatherings; I also like the idea of snow. It sounds pretty and romantic, but it can be messy—maybe uncomfortable—and snow, like family, can complicate matters. God calls us to love people, but people aren't perfect, including ourselves. The holidays can bring our imperfections to the surface quicker than you can call the Martha Stewart Hotline. (Is there a Martha Stewart Hotline?)
While humming along with Michael Buble, your thoughts of sugar plums are interrupted by recalling the last time your family descended in droves. Uncle Otto from Ottawa brought his dog, Snap, who lived up to his name and bit your grand-niece Olive from Ontario. Even my favorite family members can test my patience at this time of year when everything is supposed to be merry and bright, but doesn't always live up to a Hallmark movie.
Combining the seemingly endless preparations for the holidays along with hosting relatives you haven't seen for over a year, you imagine yourself standing like a deer—frozen like the 24 lb. turkey you forgot to defrost the last time you hosted—staring into the headlights of all those extra cars piling down your drive. You suddenly begin planning your backdoor escape which includes ordering three lasagnas and a pumpkin cheesecake from the local grocery store while you check into Motel 6 and wait out the melee. Not that ordering lasagna and cheesecake is a bad idea. It can be a great idea, as long as people expect that this year we might be doing things a little differently. Managing expectations is half the battle. Taking advantage of these five tips I'm about to give you is the other half.
Opening your home to those closest and dearest to you is a labor of love.
Here are five ideas, then, to help you host with less stress and more joy as you welcome your family this holiday season. . .
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