• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Diary of a Quilter - a quilt blog
  • Home
  • Tutorials
  • Shop
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Tutorials
  • Shop
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Tutorials
    • Shop
    • FAQ
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Imperfectly Perfect Christmas

    Last Modified: December 20, 2016 by Amy · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 16 Comments

    To all those who celebrate the holiday, Merry Christmas!

    Our holiday from school started unceremoniously last Monday with a kid throwing up. Great.  As the week progressed, various others have succumbed to not feeling so hot either.  I felt so frustrated about how it would all affect our plans for the week with friends and family – and it did. And so, I’ve been grateful for this perspective:

    “We have in our minds a picture of how everything should be – the perfect tree, the perfect lights, the perfect gifts, and the perfect family events. We might even want to re-create some magical moment we remember from Christmases past, and nothing short of perfection will do.

    “Sooner or later, something unpleasant occurs . . . the turkey burns, the sweater is the wrong size . . . the children quarrel, the pressure rises – and the picture-perfect Christmas we had imagined, the magic we had intended to create, shatters around us. As a result, the Christmas season is often a time of stress, anxiety, frustration, and perhaps even disappointment.

    “But then, if we are only willing to open our hearts and minds to the spirit of Christmas, we will recognize wonderful things happening around us that will direct or redirect our attention to the sublime. It is usually something small – we read a verse of scripture; we hear a sacred carol and really listen, perhaps for the first time to its words; or we witness a sincere expression of love. In one way or another, the Spirit touches our hearts and we see that Christmas, in its essence, is much more sturdy and enduring that the many minor things of life we too often use to adorn it.

    “In these precious moments, we realize what we feel and know in our heart – that Christmas is really about the Christ.” ~Dieter Uchtdorf (you can read the whole address here).

    So even though it hasn’t been “perfect”, Christmas is already Perfect on its own. And that’s all we really need.

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to print (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

    Related

    « Kitschy Christmas Quilt
    Scotty ornaments & sewing with kids »

    Filed Under: Christmas

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Patchwork Penguin

      December 25, 2011 at 4:47 pm

      We spent Thanksgiving last year with the stomach virus making its way through the family. but in the end, we were all together.<br /><br />Hope everyone is feeling better!

      Reply
    2. Katy Cameron

      December 25, 2011 at 5:24 pm

      Aww, sorry to hear about all the sickies, hope you all enjoyed your day anyway :o)

      Reply
    3. Pat

      December 25, 2011 at 7:24 pm

      Amen! Well said. Blessings, Pat

      Reply
    4. Anita

      December 25, 2011 at 8:49 pm

      Thank you for the perspective. I really needed to read your post. I&#39;ve really been struggling with disappointment and a difficult family situation. I really didn&#39;t want to ruin my 7 year old daughter&#39;s Christmas. I think that I really need to lighten up.<br /><br />Thank you again and happy holidays!

      Reply
    5. Deb

      December 25, 2011 at 10:04 pm

      I so agree. Last night we went to church to enjoy the carols, and see the live nativity. A couple with a new baby dressed as Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus complete with live lambs. It made me and my family feel the real meaning of Christmas.

      Reply
    6. bethanndodd

      December 25, 2011 at 11:03 pm

      Perfectly said, Amy. Merry Christmas to you!

      Reply
    7. amylouwho

      December 26, 2011 at 8:26 am

      so true! Thank you for sharing this. I was feeling the pressure of creating the &quot;perfect&quot; Christmas. And relaxed a little when I realized that would never happen, nor does it matter. Because of the very reason he said in his talk. You are wonderful! Hope you had a Merry Day! (we have 2 sickies here too)

      Reply
    8. Sarah Craig

      December 26, 2011 at 8:57 am

      Amen, Amy! Thanks for sharing such a lovely version of the Christmas story – we sometimes forget that we have been given the greatest Gift of all – we just have to accept it!

      Reply
    9. Sharlyn

      December 26, 2011 at 1:40 pm

      We started the vacation with a puker too. So far the rest of us are fine, thanks for posting the perspective reminder, that was a great talk!

      Reply
    10. Erin M.

      December 26, 2011 at 4:04 pm

      Seems to be a bunch of stomach flu bugs going around. Unfortunately, one stopped here and I&#39;ve got it. Things aren&#39;t good when Mama is sick! I hope it stops with me though. This certainly has been a Christmas to remember. Two throwing up and the movers come on Wed for our cross USA move to CA. It all can&#39;t be real, but don&#39;t you think that things didn&#39;t go the Mary

      Reply
    11. Amy Gibson

      December 27, 2011 at 9:14 am

      Beautiful post Amy 🙂 So important to keep things in perspective.

      Reply
    12. Sew Create It - Jane

      December 27, 2011 at 2:34 pm

      You have no idea how much I needed to read your post…We had a quarrel over Christmas in my family and I&#39;ve been so upset about it I felt Christmas was ruined…the truth is as you say the little things that did go right that really should be our focus. Thanks for the message of perspective. :o)

      Reply
    13. Thimbleanna

      December 27, 2011 at 5:18 pm

      A great post Amy! I hope everyone is better now and that you all had a Merry Christmas!

      Reply
    14. sandra

      December 27, 2011 at 7:12 pm

      Our christmas started on 23 of Dec with our daughter falling down icy stairs on her way to dialysis. She spend Christmas eve in surgery having her left leg which had two major breaks put back together. We spent Christmas eve with our son-in-law and grandson without her. It was really surreal but we were happy that they were able to put her back together without complications. Christmas is never

      Reply
    15. Elizabeth

      December 28, 2011 at 11:46 pm

      President Uchdorf is one of my favorites (I know you&#39;re not supposed to have favorites, but he has really endeared himself to members of the church). Thanks for the lovely reminder.<br /><br />xo -E

      Reply
    16. leigh

      December 30, 2011 at 12:08 am

      What a lovely message. Thanks. And I hope you&#39;re all feeling better by now.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    My name is Amy Smart and I'm a quilter, pattern and fabric designer, wife & mom. Excited to have you here!

    more about me →

    THE PERFECT PLACE TO START

    I SEW WITH

    Baby Lock Sewing Machines

    MY FABRIC COLLECTIONS

    Fabric Collections by Amy Smart for Riley Blake Designs.

    FAVORITE FABRIC SHOPS

    COME SEW WITH ME CRAFTSY CLASS

    Pre-cuts Shortcuts Video Craftsy Class with Amy Smartma

    SEARCH

    Top Posts & Pages

    • Diary of a Quilter by Amy Smart - a Quilt blog
    • How to Make a Manx Quilt Block
    • Lattice Baby Quilt Tutorial
    • Binding a Quilt: a Complete Tutorial
    • Valentines Day Sewing Projects

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    PRIVACY POLICY

    DISCLAIMER

    TERMS & CONDITIONS

    ACCESSIBILITY POLICY

    NEWSLETTER

    SIGN UP for weekly emails & updates!

    CONTACT

    FAQ

    This site uses affiliate links:

    I make a small commission on some purchases with no additional cost to the reader.

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Diary of a Quilter - a quilt blog