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Ah, Christmas. The twinkling lights, the smell of fresh-baked cookies, the heartwarming carols wafting through the air. And then… the burnt cookies, the tangled lights, and the desperate Amazon Prime order placed on December 22nd. If you’ve ever felt the sting of holiday stress or found yourself yelling at a roll of wrapping paper, you’re not alone. But here’s a little secret: it’s the mess, not the perfection, that makes Christmas so special.
Somewhere along the way, we bought into the idea that Christmas needs to look like a Hallmark movie—spotless homes, pristine gingerbread houses, perfectly coordinated outfits. But let’s be honest: that level of perfection is exhausting. If you’ve ever stood in the middle of a chaotic holiday kitchen with flour in your hair and a smoke detector blaring, you know that Christmas rarely goes as planned.
So, consider this your official permission slip to let go of the pressure. You don’t have to have a Pinterest-worthy tree or bake the cookies from scratch to create joy. In fact, it’s the little mishaps that often bring the biggest laughs.
Every family has its traditions—some intentional, and others… not so much. In our family, one of those “traditions” was my grandfather burning the bread. Every single year. It didn’t matter if we tried timers, reminders, or even appointing someone else as the bread-watcher—somehow, the rolls always came out resembling charcoal. But it became a running joke, and the smell of burnt bread became as much a part of Christmas as the scent of pine.
Then there was the year everything felt different. My mom was in the middle of her battle with cancer, and for a while, it seemed like Christmas would be overshadowed by fear and exhaustion. But instead, the family rallied. Everyone pitched in—My aunt cooked the turkey, my brother and I decorated the tree, and everyone made sure the bread came out just right. We laughed, sang carols, and shared our favorite family memories. It wasn’t the prettiest or most picture-perfect Christmas, but it became one of the most memorable—because we were together.
Even the very first Christmas was far from perfect. The birth of Jesus didn’t happen in a pristine palace or under perfectly controlled conditions. It happened in a stable, surrounded by animals, in the most humble and unexpected of settings. Yet from that messy moment came perfection—a story of hope, love, and salvation that still resonates today. It’s a beautiful reminder that even the messiest beginnings can bring about the most profound joy.
So this year, let’s rewrite the holiday script. Burn the cookies? Laugh about it. Have to wrap a gift in yesterday’s newspaper? Call it creative. Let the kids decorate the tree, even if it’s lopsided. The truth is, the best memories are the ones where everything doesn’t go according to plan.
Now, here’s a challenge: think about your own “messy and merry” holiday moments. What’s a time when things didn’t go as planned but ended up becoming a cherished memory? Share it with your family, write it down, or post it online. You may be surprised how much joy those imperfect moments bring to others.
At the end of the day, Christmas isn’t about having it all together—it’s about being together. So go ahead, embrace the chaos. Celebrate the imperfections. Let the messy moments create the merriest memories.
Here’s to a Christmas season that’s gloriously messy, wonderfully merry, and uniquely yours.