Friday, December 21, 2012

the remedy for Christmas crankiness

Last Sunday we were in the normal mode of getting ready
for church....a semi-controlled panic.
Add to this the fact that this Sunday the kids were singing
four songs in the adult gathering
and I wanted them dressed in Christmas clothes and you
can ratchet up that panic a few more degrees.
My kids think dressing up is coordinating their t-shirts
with their sport shorts.
I was barking out clothes assignments and nixing jeans
with holes in the knees.
I was in charge of kids church as well as leading the kids
in singing and had decided to do a birthday party for Jesus
along with our lesson.
It always seems fun on paper.
Then there is the moment before you are running out the door
and are throwing  jars of sprinkles and tubs of icing in your purse
when you realize, maybe just maybe, it would be better to
take things down a notch.
Jesus doesn't actually care about cupcakes as far as I know.
As we were headed out the door, I realized Addison,
our six year old, only had on one shoe.
I am pretty sure I had requested 17 times that he put BOTH shoes on.
"Mom, I don't know where it is! I have looked everywhere!"
A whistling sound of exasperation escaped my lips as I flipped back a
blanket on his bedroom floor to behold the missing shoe.
"You looked everywhere?"
(this sentence may or may not have been dripping with sarcasm)
Addie looked up at me and said, "Mom, are you going to yell at me again?"
That comment took me out at the knees.
 I knelt down on the floor in front of him and put my hands on his shoulders.
Eye to eye and nose to nose I told him,
"Addison, your mom is sooooo cranky right now."
He nodded in agreement.
"She has got to change her attitude."
He concurred.
"What do you think I need to do?"
He thought for a second and said, "I think you need some candy."
Bless him. Christmas grace seems to flow in the veins of children.
I think he is on to something.
For the rest of the holiday season, for the good of all man kind,
I will be carrying candy canes in my purse,
to soothe the savage Christmas beast within.
The one who feels overwhelmed by holiday pressures
and buffeted by overcrowded stores and
defeated by the high hurdles of expectation that I have placed
in front of myself.
Don't be offended if I hand you a candy cane, too.
It is just a small reminder that during this crazy time of year
we all need a little sweetness in our lives.

2 comments:

Danette said...

All I can say is thank you for putting it into words.

susanna said...

I'm glad I am not alone, Danette! :) I hope you have a truly blessed holiday season!