This weekend we decorated our house for Christmas. The wreaths are up, the mantle is decorated, and the tree is up, lit, and decorated. I have no feelings of holiday nostalgia. Every year, I have visions of our family going to some farm and finding the perfect tree, cutting it down and dragging it back to the car on a sled; putting the tree up while Christmas music is playing in the background as we sip hot cocoa. All of us joyfully laughing just because we are together. I know it's stupid and very Cleaver-like.
This is how it went. We drove to the local strip mall where Kiwanis sells trees, picked the tallest one they had and the men all strapped it onto the car while the wife and children sat in the car watching Barney for the 100 Millionth time. The two oldest in the back fighting over who knows what. When the tree was secured to the roof, one of the men wished us a Merry Christmas and one of the kids commented on how it would be Merry, because she was expecting a certain gift that she was sure to receive. I was horrified and sad at the same time. We decorated the tree the next day. Nick and I put the lights on, and the older kids were no where to be found. Taylor finally surfaced shortly after and she and I and put the ornaments on the tree. The evening turned into a big argument and was about as unfun, and unmerry as you can possibly get. How does this happen? How easy it is to forget what Christmas is about. Are we all that selfish that we forgot how lucky we are that we have a great family and can celebrate this season together?
We all need a wake up call, myself included. I am going to give it to us before the Big Man does first. This season is going to be about giving to others who are not as fortunate. It will be about telling people that we love how grateful we are that they are in our lives. It will not be about what is on our Christmas list or how sorry we feel for ourselves that life is not conforming to our master plan. We have a roof over our heads, food on our table, and the six of us are healthy. Any more than that is a blessing.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Sandy, I LOVE this story and good for you. We have forgotten the reason for the season and that is why we see merry xmas instead of Merry Christmas. Christmas is about the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ and the gift of Hope. Sandy you are very special to mom and I and we love you.
Love
Dad C
Post a Comment