Christmas Spirit

I will not be a grinch. I will not be a grinch. I will not be a grinch. I will not be a grinch....

I keep telling myself that, and it seems to be working. My problem isn't with the spending money, sometimes I wish I was more grinchy that way. I love buying presents, and I usually end up with too much. My problem is the crowds! I bite my tongue every time in the store, especially when I'm with the kids. How is it that the slowest, oldest, widest lady in the store is always parked right in front of the section you need to be? So I have been telling myself, I will not be a grinch. I will be polite, and smile if it kills me. I will look at all the other stuff around that area, maybe it's fate and I'm supposed to find something that the shopping cart lady isn't blocking. Maybe there's a deal just waiting for me where I would least likely look...

I have also decided to give a couple dollars to every bell ringer I see, or give the money to the kids so they can have the experience. Even when my hands are full of groceries, or when my wallet (between the checkout and the door) has found it's way to the exact bottom of my purse, or even when the wind is whipping and the snow and sleet are stinging my face, I will pause and dig for money and GIVE, because I WILL NOT BE A GRINCH.

I will let the kids make a mess in my kitchen, and I won't complain about cleaning it up later, after they've spent hours decorating and baking Christmas cookies. Because when I was a kid, my mom did the same for us. I don't remember the mess, which we undoubtedly made, but I remember how much fun it was every year making Christmas cookies with my family.

I will let the kids wrap their own presents, because they are excited about it and because it means something to them to do so. Even though they won't be perfect, and they may use a little too much paper... It's only paper, and we're going to wad it up and burn it after presents are opened anyways, so what does it matter if they use too much?

I will allow my 4 yr old son to organize the Nativity Scene as many times as he likes, even though it's not ever in that perfect 1/2 circle surrounding baby Jesus. Because in the world of my 4 yr old, it makes perfect sense for them to be in a different position, and who am I to say where they were on the Day that Christ was born.

I won't change the radio station away from Christmas music, even if it's Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer, and when that song is on, I will appease my children and crank up the radio so that they can sing at the top of their lungs.

I will bundle myself up and brave the cold so that my children can show me their snow angels and snow men. Even though I could see them from the warmth of the house, through the window, I know that it's not the same for a child, who thinks you have to be right there to taste the snowflakes and see the snow angel. And when they come in from the snow, I will let them make another mess in my kitchen with hot cocoa and lots of marshmallows.

I will enjoy the simple things and let the kids put the Christmas tree lights on the super duper high flashing speed that makes me feel like I've just took a triple shot of espresso right to the brain. I will let them then change the speed another twenty times that night just because the lights are so much entertainment for them. And I won't care, because I have children who are with me this Christmas and I had the money to buy the extra lights with the super duper speed settings, so why not enjoy them?

I will not be a grinch this Christmas. I will enjoy all the pleasantries, all the hurrying here and there, all the parties, and all the extras that cost a little bit more. I will smile at all the grinches in the store and hope that I can extend a nice bit of warmth to their busy day. I will pause and reflect on all that this season is and on all the reasons that we have this season to bless our lives. I will reflect on the loved ones no longer with us, and on those that may not be here for another Christmas season. I will cuddle on the couch tonight with popcorn and sodas and watch the Muppets Christmas Movie.

I will enjoy the season. I will let my heart grow with love. Love for the all the little things that God has blessed our hearts and lives with. Because as the grinchiest Grinch of them all once said.... "What if Christmas doesn't come from a store, what if Christmas means a little bit more."