A Glimpse

Right now, I'm not thinking about the conversations we had as we made dinner, even though the conversation was fun.

I'm also not thinking about the delicious food we ate (the Mr. outdid himself once again).

I'm not thinking about carols sung, played on a piano, a sax or a drum.

First presents and Christmas PJ's are also not on the forefront of my mind.

Right now, I'm thinking about sleeping children and the first conversation I had this Christmas Eve morn.

Upon coming down the stairs, I noticed all the presents under the tree were stacked and organized into 4 piles.  (We encourage gentle Christmas gift shaking.)  I greeted B a good morning and asked him what he was doing ... He looked up at me and said:  "Mom, we have a lot of presents.  I don't think we need so much.  I could take like 4 and maybe we can give the rest away to kids who don't have so much."

From where do these observations come?  Why is my 6 year old, on the morning BEFORE Christmas, concerned with having too many presents?  At that moment, that little glimpse into what really mattered, I felt it ... The Christmas Spirit and my heart felt good.  So good ...

Santa came tonight, bearing a few more gifts.  Part of me wonders if the distance from family has created a desire for the Mr. and I to overcompensate with tangible presents ... Maybe.  Probably.  That is why I am so, SO grateful for our 6 year old who so humbly and unwittingly reminds us about priorities, especially during the Christmas season.  In his words, I knew we didn't need to overcompensate.

A few weeks ago, we had a devotional on service.  Since that night, B has been obsessed with knowing what is service and what isn't.  Tomorrow morning, I'll tell him his idea of giving away what he doesn't need is service.  I think it's more than that, I like to call it Charity ...

Right now, I'm thinking about two little children who are more thoughtful and altruistic than I have the courage to be and that thought makes me happy.

Merry Christmas.