Christmas

When I was four years old I spent my first Christmas away from my father and although I never mentioned it, I missed him that year. I slept on a Murphy bed, in Madrid, Spain at my grandmother's house whilst my very young mother recovered from her broken heart and marriage. At four you don't think about those kinds of things, it takes some living to appreciate what your parents have done.

But I did miss my father.

I wonder if that is how "my" kids are feeling now, like even though they know they are loved, someone is missing. It was lost feeling...and it feels like how I miss my mother now. How I could use her guidance in raising these children and helping their wounds heal to bearable scars.

What do you want for Christmas?

What do you need for Christmas?

Are they the same things?

I asked this of the kids I teach Sunday school to on Sunday and most of them told me they'd really have to think about it and since we won't meet until after the holidays, they all promised to tell me next year.

I humbly said good...and promised I would tell them too.

What I want and need are getting closer to the same things the older I get.

Interesting.

Mom said that would happen.