It will be quiet here during Christmas. It is an “in law” Christmas this year, which means that my kids, where possible, spend their time with the “other side of the family.” When my oldest child got married, at the age of 28, he decided [planner that he is] to start out right in planning the holidays. I will ever be grateful for that — it is hard to make changes when the kids get older, and he helped me make that change by coming to me and talking it over.
I am blessed to be friends with all of my children’s in laws, and I truly understand that it is selfish and unreasonable to expect my kids to always be with me during those special times. However, the kids continued to come home, even if we had to celebrate Christmas at New Year’s. Some of the distances were very long, but it worked for a while, and I was grateful, even though I did not press for that.
In recent years, however, some of the “double Christmas” push has been harder to do — the kids are older, and continue to have more Christmas events to not only participate in [such as choirs] but also to enjoy with their friends. To my surprise I have found out that I am good with that. I continue to remember how it was with my kids at home, and how hard it was to make the trek to New Jersey from time to time, and I am able to be patient with the situation, and to continue to pray for them as they make those long travels to the other grandmother and grandfather.
This blog is really about letting go….and there are many places in which we have to let go as things in our lives change. When that happens to you, remember to thank and praise the Lord. If your child refused to leave home, turning out to be lazy and irresponsible, you would be understandably crushed by that. Praise God when He gives you responsible, persevering and godly kids, who plan for the good of all the family. I feel amazingly cherished in my family–whether with them or without them, for which I praise the Lord! That’s a big paycheck, isn’t it?!!!