LR is two in two days. We had a teeny little party Friday (some of our family and her godparents were in town for Thanksgiving) We took a stack of pancakes, buried them in chocolate syrup and a couple of candles and sang the classic birthday song. That's my sort of party: the kind where there is nearly zero planning, only enough people to fit around a table and simple things to do that leave your child smiling, instead of wide-eyed in bewilderment or bawling with exhaustion. I like small, humble parties. But humility is not "in" nowadays. I feel the pressure all the time.
The Holidays are creeping up like an elephant, shaking millions of dollars in advirtizments back into our mailboxes and all over the media to ensure that we feel fully discontent, to ensure that we remember how badly we need "more" to be happy or worthwhile to our loved ones.
No matter how sincerely we realize the importance of kindness, contentness or generosity, the reality is that the rest of the world wants us to think that putting ME first is the only real way to be happy.
Disney is a great example. Disneyland has a daily parade that consumes the streets with flashing madness and a song that basically repeats over and over again: "It's time to celebrate today, it's time to celebrate YOU!" after all, "YOU" are the only one that matters, or haven't you heard?
"Happiness is wanting what you have, and contentment is not wanting more," I remember hearing sometime back. Is it possible to celebrate our loved ones, our families, our sons and daughters, without feeling the pain or guilt of obligitory gift-giving or extravagant parties? I don't even mind going nuts once in a while for celebrations, but it seems like it's coming from the wrong places, from the fear of acceptance, or the need to impress. I want my celebrations to reflect thankfulness, not greed, and I think that is really the intent of birthday parties and holidays from the start, isn't it?
Thankfulness. One verse claims "thankfulness" is basically the password to eternity. I'm very thankful for my daughters. I'm so thankful for my family. If you are reading this, I'm extremely thankful for you, although you might not see me express it in the form of a Best Buy gift card or anything, it is still from my heart. This season I'm celebrating the many things I'm thankful for, too!!
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