Are you “over-Christmas-ed” yet?

Okay, a show of hands, who feels overwhelmed by all that’s involved with Christmas in the 21st century already?

Last year I took advantage of some discount incentives that were sent to me voluntarily from the store across the street from my apartment. I walked over shortly after they opened on Thanksgiving day and found two coats I donated to the local radio station’s holiday drive. I patiently waited in line for over 1.5 hours to pay my discounted purchase with a weary smile.

Apparently it showed that I don’t particularly enjoy experiences such as that. I merely do it every five to ten years to remind myself why I don’t do it very often. They didn’t even bother sending me an incentive to walk in their door this year. Like I said, it must have shown.

This year I decided to do my shopping online. That’s a big step for this red-neck country bumpkin. I don’t have much of a list for others, but I decided to advance my recording capabilities. Yeah, my videos will sound much better…if my shipment ever finds me.

I went to the humongous online retailer named after the largest river to buy some microphones and accessories. They kindly sent me emails tracking my precious shipment. It supposedly arrived at my apartment complex office on Thursday.

I took the slip of paper that was left in my mailbox to the office to retrieve my equipment that’s supposed to catapult my recording career. It isn’t there, not even one of the four pieces that supposedly shipped on Monday.

I’ve come up with a few theoretical scenarios that might have happened, maybe. I think.

  1. My mailman–who is actually a female woman–what can I say, I’m old-school–delivered my parcel to the office and somebody else picked it up. In which case one of my neighbors is either contemplating who they can re-gift these pieces to, or they’re enjoying some personal in-home karaoke time. Perhaps their new career is what I invested in. Perhaps.
  2. My mailman, um…I mean that female woman who delivers my mail…left my package in her vehicle when she toted the rest of her parcels into my office…I mean my apartment complex’s office. She thought she was being kind by leaving me the note saying she completed her mission to deliver my package without realizing she still had my equipment in her possession. I shall attempt a few relaxation techniques before going to my local post office to see if they may perhaps have my career advancement purchase in their possession. Please pray I don’t go postal while I’m there.
  3. Those river people have my stuff and my cash. Now you know why I prefer to carry my purchase out the door with me after I pay my hard-earned money. Like I said earlier, I’m a red-neck old-school country bumpkin. At least that’s what I keep reminding God of every time He stretches me like this.

I know, I know, all things are working together for my good to make me more like Christ. I just want to know why frustration is such a valuable lesson that God keeps repeatedly using it on me all the time.

Sure, Jesus had to deal with His disciples–many of whom were red-neck fishermen, and the religious leaders of that day–who were sure they had all the answers, and the Romans–who thought they were in charge. But, He never had to deal with a government-backed establishment initialed USPS or a .com conglomerate of river people. Just sayin’.

Keep smiling and Merry Christmas.   Wade

By wadewebster

I'm a truck driver turned writer. My writing drives people to Jesus. I love sunsets/sunrises, dark chocolate, coffee, cats and dogs (as long as their owners pick up after them) and solitude. My relationship with God through Jesus Christ is most important to me, not a religion. This writing gig is all God's idea. I only wish to bring more attention to Jesus with it.

2 comments

  1. Sorry that happened to you, but I think those river people are responsible. Make sure you contact them and let them know you didn’t get your package. They will probably send you a new order. I’ve been thinking about Christmas lately and how secular it has become and will celebrate the birth of Christ with all of my heart, but this year I am avoiding in engaging in activities that I don’t think glorify God and are not “Christ” centered. I am not even putting up a tree. And my gift giving is minimal. Just pondering and praying over changes I can make this Christmas to “keep it real.” Merry Christmas to you and yours and may the spirit of the Living God fill you with hope and peace now and always.

    1. Good to hear from you, Holly.
      I understand you had quite a scare with your hubby in India. It’s good to know God still has plans to use him on this planet for a while longer.
      Keeping Jesus as the center of our Christmas celebration is getting to be a more deliberate act. Isn’t it? But, I guess that’s true of our everyday lives, also.
      This will be my third year of not putting the tree up. I have a puzzle Barb and I glued together of the stable scene that I bring out. Besides pulling out some special Christmas CD’s that’s all I’m doing differently this year. It’s good to stay focused on Who is important.

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