Christmas Cheer

Every year for as long as I can remember we have done this family tradition we call "Christmas Cheer". It's something I probably came up with years ago when we were spending Christmases alone since our family was so far away. Those years were a bit lonely and I wanted to focus instead on the joy of the Christmas season. I'm not sure who came up with the label, maybe Zach or Kayla. In any case it's something we look forward to every year.

This year Zach and Kayla are old enough to understand that Christmas can be challenging for people who are alone or who have fallen on hard times. In the past we have spread our Christmas Cheer around to our neighbors by delivering them plates of Christmas cookies or loaves of pumpkin bread. We will do that again this year but we managed to add something new to our plate this year.

Zach and Kayla decided to give away their good student certificates to the men who sell newspapers on the street corner on Sunday morning. These men are out there every single Sunday whether it's raining or 100 degrees. They work hard, and I have often wondered if this is their only source of income as they often appear bedraggled and and unkempt. Many a Sunday I've driven out to the street corner and received my newspaper from the same gentleman. He always smiles, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. Greets me with, "Good Morning Miss," and then, "Have a nice day." There's something about that interaction that blesses me, maybe because there is kindness in his eyes. It made perfect sense for Zach and Kayla to give their free hamburger coupons to this man. And they were excited to do it.

We drove through the intersection last Sunday afternoon. Zach dangled his arm out the window, hollering, "Excuse me, excuse me!" The newsman hustled over to our car and we all hollered, "Merry Christmas!" Startled briefly by our yelling he paused, recognition spread across his face as he looked at the coupns. Then he did what he's done every Sunday morning, he smiled and said, "Thank you have a nice day."

It was a small kindness to be sure, but one that Zach and Kayla talked about for the rest of the afternoon. "Mom, do you think he'll share his coupons," Zach asked. And, "Mom, I wonder if he'll use them today." Kayla said.
I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders. Our season of spreading Christmas Cheer had begun...now I better go bake my cookies. We've got some more cheer to deliver.

Just Do It

Today I bought a Nike t-shirt. I've always wanted one. Not sure why I've never bought one until now. It's pink, of course and the slogan sprawls across my chest announcing to the world that I too am a crazed enthusiast of the Just Do It alliance. Did you know it's an alliance? People all over the world embrace the idea that Just Doing It will make you stronger, more agile, more muscular, more peaceful, maybe even smarter.

So I checked out of the Academy Sports, happy with my purchase that bounced along deep in the bowels of my crinkly plastic bag, beside two pairs of snow boots and a pair of dress boots for my son. And yes, I know it doesn't snow in Texas. As I pulled out of the parking lot I imagined shedding my dress up clothes and pulling out my new shiny bubble gum tee. I would join the club, I would Just Do It.

I dumped the bag onto my bed exhilarated to finally be a part of the Just Do It club. I threw my high heels into the closet while ripping my blonde head free of the sweater that caught on my glasses. Woops, again with the glasses?? Tore through the pile of shoes until my fingers caught the smooth edge of the pepto colored garment that I quickly checked for holes or loose threads, and then pulled my arms through the holes, and my head poked through the top.
I ran to the full length mirror to check for immediate change and said to myself, "Dang, somebody take my picture, cuz I'm looking good."
Much to my disappointment no music randomly played, no spotlights magically appeared and certainly no photographer hopped from out behind my rack of sweaters to take my picture. Somehow the get up and go of the Just Do It club, had got up and went.
I do love the tee, it's cute and will make itself right at home with the rest of my tees. And believe me when I tell you that I wore it around proudly all afternoon, while I munched on Halloween candy. So I think I've decided that Just Do It is cool, and a fun marketing ploy but for me I think I'm happy being part of the "I'll Just Do It When I Feel Like It" club. There's much less guilt that way don't you think?
And besides, I'm not so sure I've got what it takes to be a part of that alliance anyway, what if Just Do It for me means "Just eat the candy" or "Just sleep an extra hour". Maybe Just Do It is random and subjective...in any case. I have this really cute new t-shirt that's telling me right now that Just Do It, means I can go ahead and have that extra little piece of chocolate. Go ahead, Just Do It!

The Once Over

I got the once over yesterday. If you're a girl you know what I'm talking about. It's that look you catch someone giving you when they literally look you over from top to bottom. It was from another girl, that can only mean one thing...she was measuring me up. I wonder if I made the cut? Anyone else ever been on the receiving end of the once over? Or worse yet, the once over coupled with the whisper? That's when they look you up and down and then turn to their friend and whisper. Nothing can make you feel more exposed as when you catch someone giving you the once over and they don't even hide it.

It's important to state that because we are humans, and God gave us eyes, it's impossible to not look at other people and to not have a picture of who they are embedded into our psyche. That's part of who we are and part of how we relate to eachother, and that's okay. What's not by God's design, however, is that look of judgement that comes with the disgust or disapproval that registers in the lookers eyes. When you are on the receiving end, you feel the sting, just like they stung you with a sharp pin. It hurts, it wounds and sometimes can weave itself into the beginnings of some serious personal attacks.

As a woman I recognize it's nice to be noticed. I can think of many times I've received a complimentary glance or a verbal compliment that I've floated on the tails of for an entire day. It feels good to know that we look good or that someone liked what we had to say. But the quickest way for my balloon of happiness to deflate is when the once over I get is accompanied with a look of disgust or disapproval. That takes me right back to my elementary school days when I wore toughskins and polyester pants. Oh, how I wish our society wouldn't focus so much on what we look like on the outside and instead follow God's commands and appreciate the little gem that's hidden within us.
In Matthew 7:12 it says, "Do to others what you would have them do to you?" And in Romans 15:3, "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on Christ." So, as much as I wanted to feel hurt and angry at the person who gave me the once over, and believe me I had to work for a little while to let it go, it would not have served me or her any purpose to hold onto that. Sure, if I want to allow my worth and my value to be tallied up by someone who doesn't even know me, then I could choose to let that look stay embedded in how I feel about myself. But as a daughter of the King I choose to instead remember that passage that states with such emphatic love, "The King is captivated by your beauty," by me. He is captivated by me, no matter what I'm wearing, no matter if my shoes are with the trend, or if my hair is styled just right. The King is captivated by me, his gem, his treasure, his precious child. That's where I find my worth.

The next time I catch someone giving me the once over, instead of wondering if I made the cut, I'm going to remember that I did indeed make the cut, in God's eyes. And that will be enough.

This is Zach and This is Kayla

This is Zach.

This is Kayla.

Zach and Kayla are two of my favorite people and they just happen to be my kids. I'm not sure how we got so lucky but we did. They are pretty cool... I guess I can say that since I'm their mom. I know we're blessed and not a day goes by that I don't shake my head in wonder when I see the things they do that are truly gifts from God. Sure they bug eachother but more than anything else they are really good friends, they actually like eachother. Which I know at this age could go by the wayside at any moment but I'll hold onto the hope that it won't change even as we enter these teen years.

Zach is a brainiac and so is Kayla. There is a subtle competitiveness between them, and Zach always wants to be on top. Kayla in her 11 year old wisdom already knows to not fight this battle, somehow sensing that his need to be #1 has nothing to do with her. Her insight inspires me and Zach's mettle inspires me just the same. They make me want to be the best person I can be. When I see them in the morning, even if they've challenged me the night before, they still walk into my arms and I'm only too happy to hug them.

How are you inspired by your children?