Shopping List

A favorite Christmas song of mine is “That’s Christmas to Me,” beautifully sung by Pentatonix.  The line “The only gift I’ll ever need is the joy of family… Oh, that’s Christmas to me” rings especially true.  Christmas, 2022, found us blessed with that very gift, as each daughter and her family joined us for a very special time.

We did our best to prepare for the occasion, shopping for favorite items, stocking the fridge, the freezer, and the kitchen cabinets with extra goodies. Despite our best efforts, however, we overlooked some items we don’t usually have on hand, including oat milk and Silk almond protein milk for our grand kids.  Not a problem, as I volunteered to make a special grocery run for those items and more.

My daughters made a short list for me, and I was both amused and surprised to find written at the bottom of the list that, in addition to those items, I was to pick up a “Big Smile” while shopping.  Funny, I thought I hadn’t stopped smiling since everyone had arrived!

Holidays can be stressful for many, and for a variety of reasons.  Some are unable to travel and can’t be with loved ones, while others must endure significant travel delays and costs to be together.  Some are concerned they can’t afford to provide the kind of holiday event they’d hoped for, while others suffer self-induced stress trying to provide the (unachievable) “perfect holiday.”

Without realizing it, my desire to provide my family with a memorable Christmas and that “perfect holiday,” had apparently caused my smile to “slip off my face” only to be replaced by a look of concern.  And one of my daughters had noticed enough to add “Big Smile” to my shopping list!

In the end, it’s my belief that time, shared with loved ones, with or without an event which includes all the bells and whistles – or perfection – is the greatest gift of all.  I’m so glad my family shares that opinion and reminded me to “pick up that Big Smile” while shopping.   May your shopping list this year be as thoughtful and complete!