Pickin' a bone with Santa

So Kris (can I call you Kris?),
I sent you my list early this year.

I did.

And even as I feverishly penned it out on paper, I knew you'd be tumbling out of your La-Z-Boy in astonishment when you got it, what with my record of late Christmas lists and all (and truth be told, late card mailings too).

But I didn't procrastinate this year. I was on top of it and that means I shouldn't have gotten any lumps of coal. And yet, I sit here tonight and imagine you, sipping your high falutin' wassail as you dangle a few of those smelly black nuggets over my list, taunting, "Ah, Toni. Lessee, one lump or two?" I don't think I need to remind you that you decided on two. So let's review, big guy, 'cause I'm not too jolly at the moment.

WHAT TONI WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS
-healthy family
-happy children
-Christ at the center of it all

See Santa, that wasn't so hard. Well,..actually,...it is hard for many folks.
Sometimes loved ones are sick.
Sometimes children don't have their basic needs met.
And sometimes, okay OFTEN, Christ isn't at the center of it all, at all.
Because that requires one to truly open his/her heart and ask Christ to dwell within. Instead of allowing themselves to be putty in the Master's hand, instead of allowing Him to change them, some folks work hard at trying to change an unchangeable God.

All in all, I'm blessed. My list is fullfilled and for that I am grateful.
So that brings me to the reason for this letter. Kris, big guy, what's with working the "WHAT TONI DOESN'T WANT FOR CHRISTMAS" list? I didn't send it to you, just so you know, but you seem to be working it all the same. So just in case the wassail is fogging your beard........
#1 I did NOT want a 6 week virus (for each member of my family, no less) back in 2003. I didn't want Bronchitis that year either, nor did I want our 1 year old van "detailed" by a guard rail when we slid into it on an icy road (they picked it up on a flatbed truck the next day, remember?) And I can't believe I even have to tell you this (hellooOOo, get a clue, big guy), but I most certainly did NOT want the side of my husband's truck keyed for fun while I was in Kmart shopping for gifts (with a 6-week virus on board, I might add). Nope, didn't want any of that. Why'dja bring it, Santa?
#2 I did NOT ask for a job relocation for dh in late 2004. I didn't ask that all the flights be full at Christmas either, because you don't honestly think I preferred that he drive home, 5½ hours, in blizzard conditions after working 16 hours, do you? At least you saw to it that I got out on the last flight from Cleveland to Chicago that day before the Cleveland airport closed due to weather. And at least we got out of Chicago that day before the roads got treacherous (even if we drove the last 2 hours in VERY treacherous conditions on the turnpike).
#3 I didn't ask you to arrange for my children to lose the familiar comfort of their home and family right at the holidays in 2005. On the other hand, I *did* appreciate being reunited in Indy as a family. Still, it was a BIG change right at the holidays. Couldn't you have arranged for that gift to be delivered on, say, President's Day? I'm just sayin'.
#4 I didn't ask for a baby in 2006. Now this could DEFINITELY be on my want list. But Santa, I just didn't know I wanted it. You did though. CLEARLY, you did. Because we were literally out Christmas shopping that mid-December when our cell phone rang. CPS back in Ohio, where we had served as foster parents for 5 years. That one phone call resulted in an immediate 6-hour drive to Ohio and our beautiful fourth child. Okay, Santa. On this, I'll say I'm glad you were working this OTHER list because Brandon is the BEST surprise present we have EVER received.
#5 I did NOT NOT NOT ask for a new heat pump during the holiday season of 2007. 4 grand says I'm sitting on a beach in Maui, not admiring the new metal box on the side of my house. But hey, it was definitely practical. Nothing says MERRY CHRISTMAS like a new (and pricey) heat pump.
#6 Which leads me to this year.
Santa, are you kidding me?
New parts for a garage door opener and frame?
Six what? Dollars??? Hundred dollars? Did you say six HUNDRED dollars? Well then, a very politically correct Happy Holidays to you, big guy. 'Cause you know what? I reeeeally didn't want garage door parts this year. I mean, seriously. You blew it, big guy. You blew it and so I'm afraid I'm going to have to put you the dog house.
*************

In all seriousness now, things do seem to get bumpy for me around this time of year.
So is there a "glass half full" in the midst of it?
Absolutely!
Look, it's like this. Challenges just seem to pop up right about Christmas time. I've asked myself why and I believe there is purpose.
He wants my whole heart.
He wants my eyes on Him.
He doesn't want the superficial.
He doesn't want me to forget.
And so the real challenge is NOT in the craziness that has occurred during the holiday season. Rather, the challenge lies in answering Him when He grabs my attention and asks, "Am I enough?"

Yes, Lord, you are enough.
Emmanuel, God with us.
You have my attention, Lord. All of it. Again!

HAVE A MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS, DEAR FRIENDS!

Toni