Christmas Conversations

One of the great things about Christmas is the wonderful memories that it produces, many of which will last for a lifetime.  This Christmas produced one of those moments for me.

Early Christmas morning, after all of the gifts had been opened, our children were sitting around exploring all of their new found gifts.  One of my ten year old twin boys, Kylan, made a comment to one of his other siblings, "I hope I never grow out of loving Christmas."

I thought alot about this statement Kylan made.  Had our life been a television show or a "This Is A Wonderful Life" Christmas movie, I would have answered his question like this:  "Kylan, you will never grow out of Christmas.  It will always be as wonderful and special as it is right now."  But..is that realistic?  I knew how the mind of my ten year old was working at that moment.  All of his family was there.  He was safe, comfortable and surrounded by all of the things that he had wanted for Christmas.  No worries.  No cares.  What an amazing place to be in.  At that moment, that's what Christmas meant to him.

In my mind, I remember moments like that.  What would it be like to go back to a simpler time in your life where some of the worries that you have today weren't there.  During the rush of Christmas...a home for sale, Christmas Day to prepare for, four children, two additional foster children...I found myself having that thought.  A thought back to a simpler time.

So, realistically, what is the answer to Kylan's statement?

As uncomfortable as it might be, we all have to face change in our lives.  Change is the one constant that we will always have with us.  For Kylan, next Christmas cannot be like this one....it cannot because of change.  But the challenge for us is not change, it happens whether we want it to or not.  The challenge becomes how well we adapt to the changes that come.

There are three responses to change:  (1) you refuse to adapt to change (2) you adapt incorrectly to change (3) you take the changes that come, both good and bad, and make the necessary adjustments.

2011 will inevitably bring change to your life.  I am thinking now about some of the changes that we will be facing.  Right now I don't have all the answers, and I don't know what adjustments will have to be made.  But, you know what, we are going to deal with it.  We are going to make life happen, even though the road may be unknown, windy or even bumpy ahead.  We will figure it out.

What inevitable changes are you facing or even ignoring.  They are either going to happen or have already taken place, much to your objections.  Now, what must you do to adapt to it?  Change without adaptation equals misery, fear and disappointment.  But be encouraged.  Great ships change entire courses with only the small adjustment of a rudder.  Whatever adjustments you need to make, make them.  Change is coming.

So, Kylan, let me answer your question.  You hope you never grow out of loving Christmas.  Well, son, that is all up to you.