Monday, December 22, 2008

Fait Accompli

I started my Christmas shopping on Friday. This past Friday, December 19th.

To say that I am behind most of the shopping public is an understatement, but it seems to be working out for me. Maybe even better than I had anticipated, because after a few more gift card purchases this afternoon, I will be done. With three days to spare, no less!

To be honest, I wondered if I would get it all done in time, and it was starting to bum me out a little.

I had been counting on going out last Thursday, but then a little thing called winter weather happened. Snow and ice and school cancellations all conspired against me. I was praying that I could get all my gifts bought on time.

Actually, I was praying for that pretty hard when this thought came to me:

Dingbat (a term of endearment towards myself), you are praying for the wrong thing.

And I was. I was praying that I could get everything done that people expected of me. In other words: The stuff! We have to have the stuff!

So I changed my prayer to something more like this:

Please, Lord, don't let me miss the good things. The important things. And please let me be humble enough to accept that life does not hinge on me doing everything. Help me let go.

As soon as I did that, Rob called to say that he could come home early so that I could go out shopping. And then my brother and his girlfriend offered to watch the kids while Rob and I went out and shopped alone together. (They even offered to wrap gifts for us -- which would have been great if I had had any!)

You know that old joke about the woman whose house is surrounded by flood waters? She is stranded on the roof, praying for God to save her. Meanwhile, she turns away a boat and a helicopter that come to rescue her because she is counting on God.

Yeah, sometimes I am that woman, but not this time. I jumped at the favors, and I could feel my blood pressure lowering.

Of course, there are still some things that won't be perfect -- like the gifts for Rob's family getting up to New York late (sorry guys!) -- but some things can't be changed. And that is where the letting go comes in, I guess.

For now, I am enjoying the good stuff. The important stuff. Stuff like this:

Sally, singing Go! Tell it on the Mountain!

(Francie, pianist)

11 comments:

  1. I so needed this post right now! At this moment, I have NO business on the computer. We are four days behind in school so while the rest of the free world is out for Christmas, we are doing lessons. I tried to plan light but knew that wouldn't happen when F.B. took 3 hours to do math. On top of that, I have to send treats up to Tigerfan's office tomorrow so I have peanut butter truffles, oreo truffles, cream cheese truffles, sugar cookies, snickerdoodles and fudge all in various stages of preparation but none of them done. We are not done with shopping and now Tigercub is sick and I am waiting on a call from the Dr. meaning I cannot resume baking in case we have to go in at a moments notice. Needless to say, I have not been full of Christmas Spirit today. Thanks for remindeing me to just chill out and not try to live up to others' expectations, because I am very guilty of that.

    Hope the rest of your season is blessed and worry free!

    God bless you!

    Star

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  2. Oh how I just love that Sally!! Great piano playing, Francie!!

    Aim, It's good that you changed up your prayer. We all need to refocus. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.

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  3. Bravo! (or maybe it's Brava! or there's two -- Bravi!?) Well, you know what I mean.

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  4. Lovely singing and playing. And yea for family to the rescue. I'm so glad you got things done but also were able to step back and slow things down. Merry Christmas!

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  5. those girls need to take that act on the road....Merry Christmas Aimee...

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  6. Anonymous5:31 PM

    They are awesome! I totally understand where you are coming from; I had most of the shopping done, but then we had a third birthday to plan and cookies to bake and blah, blah, blah and today I just who cares I am going out to lunch with the three kids and everything else can wait and you know what, it was a pretty fantastic day!!! Here's to letting go... may we be able to do that more in the new year. By the way, my mom could not get over bun on the christmas card and his adorable checks (truthfully, I think she's adopt all four of them if you wanted)- have a great holiday!
    Mirabella MOM
    P.S. please excuse my complete ingorance of grammar and punctuation- dr. gadek and dr. witt would be so ashamed! (blast from the English past).

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  7. Anonymous5:56 PM

    Oh how I love my babies! There is nothing better than listening to my girls playing and singing together. What joy they are to me! And I thought my heart was totally full of joy the other night when I sat and watched Fiver sing the chipmunk song with his class...and the solo!!! He was on-key and projected his voice beautifully...and judging by the reaction of the audience, he was thoroughly enjoyed by all! And my little Bun was ever so happy with his Daddy holding him and his blankie...THIS is my Christmas gift! My beautiful,pure,innocent grandchildren reminding us what life is...really...love to all this Holy Season...

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  8. Your call to refocus--just what the doctor ordered!! I'm glad it is all done now.

    My Christmas cards are all still sitting here!

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  9. Anonymous10:42 PM

    I think you have a piano prodigy and a future choir soloist in your house! :)

    The apple does not fall far from the tree.


    Whenever I am able to "let go and give it to God" things work out. I do have a prob with the letting go part at times.
    -LisaL

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  11. I made a little 'oops' in my last comment so I deleted it.

    Such a talented family. Those Von Trapps had better watch out for the Home Corp kids!

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