Sacred in the Simple

My wife, Jean, loves decorating for Christmas. If you step into our garage, you’ll notice an assortment of nearly 30 boxes and plastic bins in the rafters. They’re filled with all of the Christmas decorations we’ve accumulated over the decades. My part of the job begins Thanksgiving weekend. I pull everything down and haul it into the house, so Jean can do her thing. I love how beautiful our home looks when she’s done.

One year, I offered to help her. For an hour, I hung icicles on the tree and talked to her while she set up our snow village. When I was done, Jean said to me, “I really enjoyed that. We haven’t talked like that in a long time.”

Jean’s observation put a lump in my throat. Like most families, we spend most of the year breathless, running from one task to another. We lose sight of how precious every moment is when we’re that busy. I sure did that night. I spent an hour completing a task. Jean spent an hour with me in meaningful conversation. She looked beyond the chore and saw something sacred.

This Christmas as you’re hanging decorations, enjoying lights in the neighborhood, or cleaning up after dinner, be aware of how quickly time is passing. Open your heart to the blessings hidden in simple moments. Take note of where you are and who you’re with. Loved ones are what turn something ordinary into something extraordinary.

There is sacred in the simple.