Christmas is about love, not perfection. Whether wrapping gifts like Sara Davies or showing Christmas resilience, overcoming adversity, love matters most.
To all the parents, grandparents, and step-parents out there struggling to make everything perfect, this one’s for you. I get it – I used to think Christmas was all about the perfect tree, flawless decorations, and wrapping so neat it could rival the pros. If you saw my wrapping, it looked like a 2-year-old had done it. You’d know I wasn’t anywhere near Sara Davies’ level (but hey, I admire her talent – well done, Sara; you make it look easy. God, that lady has talent!).
In the past, Christmas was about trying to give my son everything and be the best mum I could be. But one Christmas, things didn’t go as planned. I won’t get into the details (my life story book will be out next year!), but that particular year was one of the hardest of my life. I had lost everything. My home, my stability, and I found myself homeless with my young son. There’s no easy time to be homeless, but Christmas felt particularly cruel. I could barely put food on the table, let alone buy a present.
I was at my lowest, feeling like I wasn’t good enough as a mum because I couldn’t even provide the basics. But that year, something happened. It was a combination of a lot of things, leading up to that point, but it pushed me to the edge. I almost decided to end it all, but in that moment, something miraculous happened. As I sat in that cold, dark caravan with no money and barely anything to my name, a flash of light appeared behind me. It wasn’t accompanied by any sound, but the bright light shone down in the dead of night, and I knew in my heart it was a sign from somewhere higher – God, angels, I’m not sure. But what I do know is that in that instant, I felt something greater telling me not to give up. And I didn’t.
Over the years, I worked hard and had my share of ups and downs, just like most of us. I won’t lie, it was incredibly difficult – the caravan was cold, smelly, and dirty, with no money to spare. But through all of it, I learned something invaluable, which is why I’m sharing this today.
As parents, we want to give our children everything we didn’t have, or at least make them happy. But I can honestly say, from the bottom of my heart, that the best gift I gave my son that year wasn’t something wrapped in shiny paper. It wasn’t a new toy or an expensive gadget. It was my time and my love. We didn’t have anything else, but we had each other.
That Christmas, we spent hours watching films, playing games like “who can colour the best,” and even played Monopoly (yes, I let him win that round, but I was definitely the banker, who doesn’t want to be the banker!). Then, the little one wanted to play Nerf guns, and believe me, those things bloody hurt when they hit! But we laughed, played, cuddled, and enjoyed every moment together.
Looking back, I realise it was one of the hardest times of my life, but that Christmas showed me what really mattered. We didn’t have a toilet, a cooker, or money, but we had love for each other – and that was the best present we could have asked for.
So, to all the parents out there feeling the pressure to make everything perfect – please don’t. I know it’s tough, but family, children, and grandparents just want you and your love. That’s what matters. So, from all of us at Mind Jump Magazine, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Next year, we have exciting things coming your way. We’re going global, and we can’t wait to share some fantastic news with you! Our team of experts from around the world has put their time and energy into creating amazing articles, tips, and advice just for you. Please keep an eye out as we post every day, and the online magazine is available every month with fashion, beauty tips, health and wellbeing tips, property from all over the world, interior advice, and the most impactful stories of resilience – from losing everything to creating something amazing, from health conditions to beating the odds. We hope, as we create them, these stories lift our spirits as much as they do yours.
As we look ahead to 2025, one thing I’ve learned is that Christmas is not about perfect gifts or decorations. It’s about creating lasting memories with those you love. Whether you’re making Christmas look as flawless as Sara Davies (we just love her) or simply enjoying the holiday season with loved ones, remember it’s the love that truly counts. Sara Davies, can I borrow you to wrap? Can you invent the perfect wrapping paper? And how the hell do you wrap a ball?! Lol. Do check out Sara’s Davies website as she shows you lots of tips and tricks!”
Enjoy the holiday season, cherish the moments with those you love, and know that perfection isn’t the goal – love is.
Here is one of our inspiring stories to watch – Enjoy!
Lots of love,
Lisa
Editor-in-Chief, Mind Jump Magazine
