At times this blog can project perfection. As if we do not have daily challenges, bad days, struggles. Partly, I desire this blog to be an edifying experience for my visitors. I want to exude love, value... fun... It's an enjoyable outlet for me... not a platform to air struggles or hard times. But I also desire to be real. The Christmas season holds a lot of expectations, hype and excitement. During these days with young children, you can expect melt-downs, bad attitudes and selfishness. As a parent I have a responsibility to train up my children... pray for their heart attitude and discipline them accordingly. Sometimes these opportunities come when you least expect them...
like on Christmas Eve...
Our traditional Christmas Eve pajama hunt... a ring at the door bell. A present with H and E's names on the doorstep. Open it up... first clue! Running all over the house collecting clues... happy, fun, exciting... right?
Open the wrapped pajama present... (joyful music stops with a rrrrrriiiiiiiiip.....)
Tears. Lots of tears. (No more photos from me because I'm in shock.) What is this??? Why in the world are you crying???
They do not like the pajamas.
You what? Don't LIKE them? Don't LIKE the matching family pajamas? We do this every year... it's FUN. I don't care if you don't like the pattern... we all have the SAME and that's what is great about this idea...
More tears.
I leave the room. I'm not upset nor crying. Just in shock because this is not what I
expected to happen. I begin to analyze the situation... how I've spoiled them. The ungrateful hearts of the children I've raised... what have I done? I've ruined them forever!!!! Praying to the LORD... please help me fix this.
Meanwhile, Danny is in the other room speaking to the children about how their reaction might have made me feel.
I come back out... gain some God-given perspective... we discuss how these pajamas are just a bonus. It's just a FUN thing to do... this is not what Christmas is even all about. Take away all the hype, traditions, events and presents... strip it all away...
It's about our Savior and His birth. How He came to bear our sins... to bring life where there is death. Take all this "stuff" away ... all away. It's about the Baby who was born to save the world. Not about these (forgive me) stupid pajamas!!!!
Not exactly how I expected the Christmas story to be told... but meaningful nonetheless.
Tears dried, we go to the Christmas Eve service. I can't help but observe other families standing around knowing as joyous this time of year is, it's also met with frustrations, tense relationships, unmet expectations, discipline and tears. And the rest of our evening went on with two very hyped up silly children who couldn't go to sleep... but memories were made... and a lesson learned for all.
And I got my family Christmas Eve pajama picture... thank you very much.
