Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

It’s the little things . . .

Farm fresh eggs

As I ate two, beautiful eggs from our chickens this morning, I thought, “It’s the little things which satisfy.”

I’ll try to keep that in mind this Advent season if I get caught up in the hustle and bustle to make everything “just so.” The perfect tree, the perfect mantle decoration, the perfect post . . . ‘er, I digress.

Human beings are not perfect, and never will be. We all make mistakes, especially when we try to be something we’re not. I know this firsthand.

Our new Christmas tree with only balls for decoration

Diva is coming home from college for a short visit tonight and tomorrow to help decorate the Christmas tree. Personally, I don’t need the tree, but it’s not all about me, especially at Christmas. I hate to admit this, but there is something about the Christmas tree which brings out the perfectionist I try so hard to keep in lock down.

Perfectionism is a fault I have, like the fact that my teeth are a bit crooked, and my hair flips up on one side. Early in our marriage, I was a bit maniacal about the Christmas tree. It had to be tall because we have cathedral ceilings, and, at that time, it had to be real. This now makes me laugh because I can no longer have a real tree due to my asthma.

God has a way of helping us clear up our faults whether we like them or not, and I’m quite attached to some of my faults. How about you?

Nothing in nature is perfect, and that’s part of what makes it sublime. Everything is designed to be splendid by being completely unique.

Why do we watch the sunrise? Because, each day it’s different. If it were the same, we wouldn’t wait for it would we? A year after we were married, Bill and I took a honeymoon to Hawaii. Starting at the peak of Haleakala, we rode bicycles all the way down from the summit. The sunrise was wonderful. The breeze felt great, but my enjoyment of the ride was influenced by one of the leaders who kept telling me to hurry up, because I was falling behind. I wasn’t far behind, but his familiarity with the ride had eroded his enjoyment of it. Instead of hurrying, I wanted to enjoy it all. The rough and rocky, gray volcano with the orange sun rising behind it; the piney woods we floated through; and dense, tropical vegetation further down. It’s been 22 years, and I still recall it as if it were yesterday. Our ride ended at a small German restaurant where we ate Dutch pancakes. As I put a forkful in my mouth, the same guy came and began dogging on me about how slow I’d been.

That day, I decided not to listen to those who just want to rag on me, who want to hurry me through my enjoyment of my life. Only I live my days, and if I choose to slow down and enjoy them, who’s to say I can’t?

Paperwhites and Amaryllis are coming along.

So, even when the world pushes you along, telling you to hurry, don’t listen. Instead, take a few moments each day to remind yourself why you’re doing all of this in anticipation of the big day. Don’t forget to enjoy the little things for they are what you will remember one day.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carolyn

    No mistake that I stumbled upon your post this morning. My soul needed to hear what you have so sweetly said. “Even when the world pushes you along, telling you to hurry, don’t listen. Enjoy the little things for they are what you will remember one day.” I can make it through this day now. Thank you Dee.

    • Dee Nash

      Carolyn, you brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for your kind words. I always try to remember it took Mary nine months to give birth, and so we shouldn’t rush the Advent season before Christmas. We should enjoy the waiting as much as the Christ child himself.

  4. rock rose

    Another of oyu delightfully thoughtful and thought provoking posts. I think I finally arrived at the age where I can relax and not fuss so much. This year no big tree just the little goose feather tree that someone gave me when I was a baby. It is showing its age but by golly does it have character!

  7. Helen

    I think this is all about being self-aware and comfortable with yourself. It always amazes me how easily we can become pressurised by others expectations and judgements. I always get stressed with putting up the tree not sure if its perfectionism or just stress of whether the lights will work or not

  8. Helen at Toronto Gardens

    Reading your post was like taking a deep, cleansing breath, Dee. We, too, are paring things down this Christmas. For the first time in years, we bought a real tree. But it will be staying outside on our back porch, where we can enjoy it all winter — and perhaps invite some feathered friends to stop by for a visit. All I’ll be doing is combining a few fir branches and some red dogwood twigs with a few of our favourite ornaments as an indoor tree this year. Wishing you a happy visit with your diva.

  10. Linda Lehmusvirta

    Love this! I’m reading it this Sunday morning and freaking out about all the things to do, the things I didn’t get to this past year, and why am I so slow?! Okay, now I’m going to relax and enjoy this misty day. And not twitch so much. Happy Christmas to you and your family!

  11. Leslie

    Wise words for us to ponder. I love the decorations but am trying not to be a slave to them. I choose each year how much I will do. When the grandchildren spend Christmas here I like to do it up more. When they are not we keep it simpler. I hope your holiday season is peaceful and full of the things that have importance.

  12. Cindy, MCOK

    Dee, thank you. The holiday season is an especially difficult time for those of us who struggle with “how much is enough?” It’s important to remember that the little things are what truly make not only the holidays, but our lives, special.

  13. Frances

    Sweet words that flow from your heart through your fingertips, dear Dee. It is the little things, and those eggs are such a perfect example of them, those little moments that make each day special. The first year we had no kids at home, we did not have a tree. It was so depressing, for us to not have that pretty tree, perfect or not, that we have always had one since. The lights and ornaments help get us through that longest night.

  15. Margaret (Peggy) Herrman

    thanks again Dee. We stopped decorating several years ago (we put up wreaths but not trees right now). there is a piece of that artistic perfectionism that comes out in Orchid Ladies. You have that too, and it is not a bad thing at all. 🙂 think about all the schlock out there that gets passed off…here is a shout for quiet quality, That is what I see and hear in you. thanks for being you. 🙂 peg, doc peg and the ladies

    • Dee Nash

      Peggy, I totally understand. If I didn’t still have children at home, I would quit too. I love the wreaths on my doors. Thank you for your very, kind words. I hope the season bring you all the beauty Christmas promises.

  16. Annie

    I was wondering about the plate that the eggs were on. 20 years ago I worked in housewares at a department store. It left me with a love of table settings. What pattern is that?

  18. Tim Burress

    This is very good advice Dee, and I do try to take a little time each day, if nothing else just to walk around my garden. Christmas is one of my favorite times of year as I help my wife decorate 13 trees in our home. By the way, if you go to my webpage, I’m a little behind in updating, front page is blank waiting for me to put info on our home and garden show in March

      • Greggo

        Yes Dee my son moved to OKC and thank you for you wonderful comments. He’ll probably be bringing some of that darned red dirt back to Kansas on visits. It’s nice to have him this close.
        Congratulations on your proven winners position. and….
        I have to throw this in too. How bout those Cowboys! OSU big 12 champs. lol.

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