In talking with other moms in the schoolyard there has been one theme lately: THERE IS TOO MUCH TO DO IN DECEMBER! It’s unfortunate that this holy month of preparation and celebration becomes a burden rather than a delight for so many. But I confess, I feel the squeeze, too.

Three children in school equals five teacher gifts to buy, three classroom gift exchange presents to buy, one Christmas play, one choral concert, a classroom food drive competition, and three needy children forms sent home requesting everything from clothes to iPods. Phew. Now that it is nearly Christmas Eve, let me think about buying, wrapping, and shipping the gifts for my own family and friends who live far and wide. Wait, everything I want is sold out in stores and on-line. Time to rack my brain for new gift ideas and fast! This month alone makes the homeschooling option ever more attractive.

Whatever happened to those sugar-plum dreams I had of reading my daily Advent prayers by the fireplace? And that Advent wreath on the table? It has been lit but we have had too few family dinners at home to make it consistent. I see that my old frienemies pressure and guilt are keeping better company with me than I care to admit.

What can I do about it? Go along, rushed from event to event, panting as I press “confirm order” on one more on-line shopping spree? Or, does the church offer me an alternative?

Last week at Mass, Deacon Vern suggested that we try to find time for Silence, Solitude and Simplicity during Advent. How typical of the wiser one to know that what we need right now is the exact opposite of what the world would have us choose.

So, how can I find these three S’s right now? Through another S word I love. Sacraments. There is a penance service this week. It feels like the perfect time. Time to ask forgiveness and be forgiven. Time to lay down all the burdens I am dragging along through this harried month. The church in her wisdom has offered me a place to find silence, solitude and simplicity through confession alone.

There is also a quiet place reserved for my soul at morning mass. Silence.
There is always a moment before I go to bed when I can be alone and could pray a decade, at least, and read those Advent prayers, too. Solitude.
There is no need to say yes to every event, every request for my time and money during December. Stay home more. Shop less. Need less. Skip the Christmas cards this year. Simplicity.

Silence, Solitude, Simplicity. Sacraments. Four S words that can keep those frenemies at bay, now and all year through.

Misty blogs about her attempts to live the four-S lifestyle at http://mistysmornings.blogspot.com.

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