Plan B: When Christmas Music Makes You Want to Gag

I know I've said before that Christmas is just a tough time of the year for me. Actually, Thanksgiving, too. I typically find this time of the year to be painful, as many do, although thankfully that is lessening to a small degree each year. It is not that I am without joy, but joy and happiness are not necessarily the same thing and I dislike all the pressure to constantly be "merry." I feel joy at the beautiful gift of a Savior in Jesus. I love the nativity narratives, particularly the way Mary ponders everything in her heart. 

I guess if that's how I would best describe what Christmas is for me, it is "pondering." Maybe, too, it is that it isn't actually Christmas yet. I feel a little jaded at the constant Christmas decor that seems to find it's way into stores earlier each year. I'm just over the commercialism and longing for that day when all wrongs will be put right and every tear will be wiped away. And frankly, it's technically Advent. This is meant to be a time of preparation for when Christmas actually arrives. Call me in about three weeks and you'll find a different person. 

I love the days following Christmas, when all the pressure is off, any difficult memories are loosening their grip, and the rest of the world has moved on, yet then, it is actually Christmas. My decorations will be up until at least Epiphany and I'll be that one weird one on the block still turning on my exterior lights. 

As to the reason for my post, I do like Christmas music in general. I just have to really be in the mood for it, and in the middle of the store, when everyone is rushing about, it is just not doing it for me. However, I wanted to share a link to something that came out a couple of years ago that I looooooove. My husband is actually the one who found it. It is an album called "Dark Christmas" by Tarja. It may sound a little odd at first, but her reason for creating it was exactly that. Not everyone feels good at Christmas, sometimes people are experiencing even huge devastations, and she wanted to bring hope into those hard times and create music to which they could relate. And while, thankfully, I relate to this album a little less each year, it can be so helpful for those who are going through a really hard time during the holidays.

Frankly, some of the music out there can feel as good as a kick in the spleen when you're struggling, so I am including a link to a few of my favorites from the album. I warn you the video can seem a little jarring if you're used to the typical contemporary Christian music, but especially if you're a classical music fan, I highly recommend it. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Pie Jesu

Amazing Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Br9oLjdYEE

And if all else fails, this one always gets me out of my funk...my kids' personal favorite right now...(they say they'll be glad when this one goes away, but I know they are secret fans off it...shhhh)

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Gayla Peevey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjPm0o04lGE

 Enjoy!



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