I will be the first to admit that I am struggling with the whole “new normal” thing. I am struggling to be thankful for it, and I am struggling being “okay” with it.
Last night, I was overwhelmed by the result of it.
Every Christmas I run around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to accomplish everything that I *think* I need to accomplish. One of those such tasks is to attempt some sort of Christmas program at our church.
This year, it just was not going to happen, and I knew that there were something that would just have to give. Honestly, I just don’t have it in me. I am having a very hard time putting time and energy into much at the moment, and I had to make cuts. A Christmas program did not make the cut.
I did not say anything, and I figured that if I did not do anything about it, no one would even notice.
Well, I have this amazing daughter. At twelve years old she has taken over the children’s church at our Saturday evening church services. She has been committed like no one else has been. She does not get paid, and she happily watches the kids. She has been putting together her own lessons and crafts and takes her job very seriously.
A few weeks ago, she informed me that they were doing a Christmas program. I foolishly retorted with, “I just don’t have it in me, Babe.” To which she informed me that she didn’t need me.
EGADS!
She wrote her own Christmas program. She recruited help. She rehearsed with the kids any chance she could get. She made her own costumes. She made her own backdrops and props. She made a program. She organized their after party.
She wowed me.
Christmas, The True Meaning was presented on Saturday night and it might have been the most beautiful program that I have ever seen. Sure, the “Star” got very shy when she saw all the people and the cow and donkey didn’t want to lay still. “Joseph” got so nervous that he made himself sick and would not even go on stage. An older kid got nominated as stand in, and he did very well. But, it was beautiful.
So many times at Christmas, I worry about the things that do not matter, and last night I was reminded by ten sweet little kids about the real stuff that matters. I am thankful for the ” new normal” because our beautiful child was able to shine in a way one could never expect. She joyfully used her God-given talents and gave everything she had back to Him.
I know I will still complain about the new normal… I am human and I fail, but I am trying to remember that He gave it for His reasons. I just figured one of those out.