December 24, 2006
My daughter “Rosie” turns 3 in a few months. She is quite a spitfire when she wants to be, throw tantrums of great ferocity. She takes after her mother. But when she wants to be, she is very sweet. One of the special things that she has done lately, very flattering actually, is to express her desire to be like me. She wants to be big so she can cook for her children. We have already had our Christmas present exchange here at home as we will be traveling tomorrow. Rosie received a plastic tea set complete with cutlery and some baskets of plastic vegetables and cans. She is so sweetly cooking her favorite foods and serving them just like I would. What a special memory for me to cherish as time goes by. And it does go by so quickly. As I watch my youngest child “Percy” attempt to master speaking, I find that I can remember when Rosie started to talk. I remember my firs, “Thomas” really struggled with this and we treasured those first words so much as a result. Yet I cannot really remember what they were. It’s funny though the words they find important. Not “hurt” or “yes” or “no” or something that could really communicate but “kitty”, “clock” and for my youngest “chocolate”, “toothbrush” and “cookie”. The simple ones like “done”, “yes” and “no” completely escape him. But “toothbrush” he’s got. LOL! Poor Rosie, I remember her doing everything early and well, but not the specifics. It came too easy for her for me to linger over each word. Plus, when she started speaking, I was very pregnant with her little brother and not feeling real great. Her infancy went very fast and her brother’s looks to do the same. He already plays with Thomas the Tank Engine and Matchbox cars. He cannot speak but her sure can tell you what he wants.
I’m a little saddened today. Despite my annual promise to self that I won’t allow the commercialism to over take the season of celebration, it does. My children are overwhelmed with belongings with more to come tomorrow. It hampers my efforts that two out of the three also have birthdays during this season. Our cup runneth over. I am mindful that we are truly blessed and need to share those blessings with others. So someday, hopefully in the near future, the children will be sent to grandma’s house and my husband and I will begin the difficult process of eliminating the excess. The children won’t mind so much, but I have trouble letting go. I think “Oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful to share this with a grandchild someday”. But the battle lines must be drawn and God doesn’t give us our abundance to hide it away in our storehouses. Wish me strength to let go of that which is merely a possession and to hold onto what is important instead. I am truly blessed this evening by my eldest son. Knowing that we have a busy day ahead tomorrow and that mommy has been worn out by today’s efforts, he has taken on the job of keeping his siblings happy and fuss free. This is not an easy job, give the two conflicting personalities of “into everything” Percy and “leave me alone” Rosie. He is doing wonderfully and I know he will make a wonderful father some day. So any sadness I feel for our temporary lax into gimme-itis is short lived. I know that my children truly have giving hearts and a love for the Lord, even more than snazzy new toys.
For the moment, peace reigns in the playroom. Blessings to all and to all a goodnight.
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