Prepare and Adapt
As this week of preparation closes, the house is slowly becoming more holiday-ready. Tonight my son decorated the tree with our non-breakable ornaments and a bit of assistance. We also managed to get the advent wreath finally completed and opened the first two days. Instead of trying to open two boxes each day, we are going to extend the wreath through Christmastide.
While planning and preparation are important, sometimes knowing when to adapt can be just as valuable. Adaptation does not mean compromise. We can adapt to changing circumstances without compromising our values and morals.
Being willing to adapt tends to require a certain level of confidence in your knowledge and skills. It is more difficult to adapt when you aren't confident in your ability to continue to perform the necessary functions to complete the task. However, adaptability can bring peace, as can having a plan.
The possibility of our plans an preparations failing is no reason to bypass preparation. I find that lack of preparation leads to anxiety and stress due to the pressures of attempting to not only accomplish everything last minute, but also the added pressure of trying to remember what needs to be done and what you need to do it.
Many people travel over the holidays and we are no exception. The process of packing and getting out the door is so much more stressful if I haven't made a list of everything we need, and if I delay packing until the very last minute. Inevitably, something gets left behind, and you just hope that it was nothing too irreplaceable.
Imagine for a moment, Joseph and Mary. While she was very pregnant, they embarked on a journey to Bethlehem. Imagine trying to prepare for the journey, knowing you may give birth at any time. I'm sure Mary had made all sorts of plans and preparations for the birth, yet had to adapt to circumstances beyond her control. Instead of family being present at the birth, there were shepherds. Instead of the local village proclaiming the birth, it was angels.
As you make your preparations for the Christmas season and the New Year, be open to adapting. You might just find yourself in the midst of something amazing that you would have missed if everything went according to plan.
