You may now start decorating.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year …”

When do you start your Christmas decorating?  And what does that look like for you?

When do you start listening to Christmas music?

Here’s the most important question about Christmas decorations and Christmas music:  when is it too dadgum early for Christmas decorations and Christmas music?

There are multiple opinions on the proper etiquette of Yuletide celebrations and traditions, but I have the definitive answer that would clear up all the confusion if everyone would simply take it to heart.

You may want to pause right now and get a pen and paper so you can write this down.  After all, you may not have this post close at hand when you are strategizing your Christmas calendar.

Ready?

Ok, here it is.

The proper time for Christmas decorating and music to begin is … (drum roll) … the day I decide to start.  Until that day, it is too dadgum early and people are just being ridiculous!

So, for those of you who decorated already, why the rush?

Of course, I’m being silly with all this, but I’m hoping to make a point.

Everybody has opinions, preferences, and experiences. That’s actually kind of a good thing. If everybody REALLY did things the way I do things and the way I think THEY should do things, the world actually would not be a better place.

Why is that?  Because I’m not infallible.  My opinions, preferences, and experiences do not define reality.  They do not define my reality any more than they define someone else’s reality.  They may influence my perception of reality, but they do not change reality.

What’s true of my opinions, preferences, and experiences is also true of yours—and everyone else’s.

So, what do we do with those opinions, preferences, and experiences? How about learning to share them graciously and respectfully?  How about being curious enough to have a conversation with someone about theirs?

How about being less demanding that our preferences be honored and demonstrating that our lives are driven by a compulsion that runs deeper than getting our way.

The heart of Christmas is not an opinion, but a reality with abundant historical evidence. Jesus was a real person. A real baby born in a real village called Bethlehem. He grew up to become a real man. He was crucified on a real cross and buried in a real tomb. And according to overwhelming evidence, He rose from the dead.

We can have opinions about all of that, preferences as to how it is acknowledged in our context, and experiences that are meaningful to us, but none of those make it any more or less true.

Truth is what makes it true.

I wrote a Christmas song almost 20 years ago.  The chorus says, “It’s a simple Texas Christmas and we smile when all we are is neighbors for a while. And it’s all because of that one precious child that was born so long ago. It’s a simple Texas Christmas and the joy is not about the tinsel and the toys. But the birthday of sweet little Jesus boy has set our hearts aglow.”

Neighbors.

Joy.

Jesus.

You may now start decorating. I don’t care about your house. Let’s decorate our lives.

Be amazing, my friend.