Don’t you just love the holiday season? Christmas music playing, snow falling and ecstatic children anticipating gifts from Santa. Their enthusiasm is so contagious. I love it!
My munchkin can’t wait to help me wrap presents each year, and practically hops from foot to foot in anxious expectation for the festive occurrence. *Sigh.* So, each year, I drag out the bag full of wrapping paper, gift tags and bows, spread it out on the family room floor and begin the arduous process.
The munchkin’s job is simple: Select the appropriate gift tag for the person and hold the paper while I affix the tape to secure the wrapping. During this much-anticipated task this year, I had quite a bit of commentary. So, I thought, “Why keep all this fun to myself? I need to share this with you, my friend.” So here goes.
Peace
While wrapping a gift for his grandma, the munchkin selects a tag that reads: Peace. “Why’d you select that one, munchkin?” I asked him curiously, as I’d watched him pore over all his choices. He looks up at me, serious expression on his face. “Because Grandma needs some peace sometimes from playing Pokémon with me all the time,” he says while shaking his head. Too-right you are, my little man. 😉
Joy
Ironically, this year my husband and I drew each other’s names in his family’s Christmas grab bag. That works just fine for me because then we can get exactly what we want, right? 😀 As I was wrapping up our gifts, I handed mine to the munchkin and told him it was for me. He was, of course, confused at first. “Why are you wrapping a gift for yourself?” he asked. I explained about the grab bag.
“So, can you pick me out a good tag?” I asked him. He thought for a minute, and then selected a tag that read: Joy. Okay, I have to ask. “Why’d you pick that one?” “{Sigh.} Because, Mommy. Sometimes you need a little joy after dealing with Daddy and me everyday.” LOL! This one still gives me the giggles. I think I laughed for like three minutes straight. What a nutball!
Love
Now, this little snippet didn’t happen while we were wrapping presents, but I thought it was appropriate nonetheless. Every night after I tuck the munchkin into bed, I sing to him. Given it’s Christmastime, we’ve been singing nothing but Christmas songs, which I love.
The munchkin, however, has this huge heart, and he’s always been moved by music. Like me, he can well-up at the drop of a hat when he hears a song that he loves or listens to words that make him sad or happy.
His request last night, “Mommy, don’t sing any songs about Jesus tonight, okay?” “What? Why?” I ask. “Uh, that’s the whole point of Christmas?!?!” “I know, but they make me sad, and I don’t want to be sad.” (Clarification: He means that he’ll start to cry; not necessarily that he’s actually sad because of them.) “Okay, we’ll stick to the songs like Rudolph and Frosty tonight.”
After a few songs, he stops me, sits up in bed panicked and says, “Mommy. God knows that I still love him, right? Just because I don’t want to sing songs that make me sad. He knows that right?” “Yes, sweet pea. He knows.”
I wish for you and yours a blessed Christmas season with peace, joy and love.
Read Full Post »
Common Grounds 