It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The stores are filled with holiday items, and the tree is up at the Rankin house. It's a different kind of tree this year. I usually put two trees up. The biggest tree is filled with pretty, matching ornaments in shades of brown and gold. The second tree is usually the smaller tree, and it's filled with our sentimental ornaments - ones that remind us of you, ones bought as a keepsake from a trip, ones passed down from our childhoods. Both trees always have classic white lights to make them sparkle.
This year though, with two toddlers to plan around, I decided on only one tree. Colored lights and our special ornaments adorn it. I hung the ornaments last Sunday night, and I pointed out each one as I hung them. "This one is from Mommy and Daddy's honeymoon - look babies, it has Mickey and Minnie on it!" "Baylor, this is one of your first Christmas ornaments." "This ornament has a big 'G' for Griffin on it!" "This is an ornament that Mommy and Daddy picked up the year we spent Christmas in NYC. Did you know that the two of you are souvenirs from that trip?!"
And of course, there were all of your ornaments to hang. "This is Morris's first Christmas ornament. See the pretty angel wings and his name engraved?" "This elephant ornament was a gift from a friend in memory of your big brother." "This is one of my favorites - an elephant ornament complete with wings and halo!" "Your aunt Judy bought this ornament for us last year - it has all 5 of our family members on it!"
Afterward, we turned up the Christmas music and danced around the living room together. As I held Baylor up to the tree to look at one of the ornaments, I found myself in tears. I don't know if they were sad or happy tears, honestly. I think they were a mixture of both. I know a lot of people think it's too early to put up Christmas decorations before the Thanksgiving holiday arrives. I think with all the craziness of the world these days though, some of us are just looking for the peace and spirit of family that Christmas brings along with it.
As I was decorating the tree, I bent down to pick up an ornament that had fallen. I noticed something I'd been looking for on top the DVD box under the entertainment center. It was a devotional book that was given to us for the twins' Baby Dedication service this Mother's Day. I was so excited, as I knew that I had tucked my notes from the dedication class inside the front cover. The Baby Dedication class was taught by my friend Julie. I've been looking for the book and my notes ever since, because I got a lot from the class and wanted to be able to document/share what I learned.
The class was based around verses found in Deuteronomy 6:4-7:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."There were 5 main takeaways from the class:
- Widen your circle - Invite others to be involved with your children. You don't have to raise your children all on your own. Partner with the Church. Find people who can reach your children in ways you can't and help strengthen their relationship with Christ.
- Imagine the end - focus on the things that will have an impact in your child's life. Choose your battles. Know the difference between what matters and what matters most. (My take away - fighting with a toddler who wants to wear rain boots when it's not raining = silly; making family dinner time non-negotiable = important).
- Fight for the heart - Fight for unconditional love in your home. Don't win the argument but lose the heart. Prove to your children that you can be trusted over the long haul. Use positive communication - a communication style that shows you value the relationship. (I love this last one - so often we respond quickly, especially to children, and without realizing the words we are using or not explaining.)
- Create a rhythm - Establish what is acceptable in your family and set expectations. If you always go to church together on Sunday and you have dinner each night as a family, it's clear that those things are important.
- Make it personal - Don't neglect your own salvation. Your parenting success will be about your own relationship with God. Your faith and character matters because your children are always watching.
A remember-able quote was, "Focus on the bigger story that God wants to show your children through you."
I wanted to type these notes up months ago, but I think it was God's plan that they were "lost" for a bit. Sometimes re-reading things later gives you a new appreciation/understanding for the topic, and it encourages you to re-commit to taking it to heart. I want to be the best mom I can be to these two little miracles we've been given, and I'm reminded of some ways that I can do that through the message Julie shared.
Although our house looks like Christmas already, it's the Thanksgiving holiday that we'll be celebrating next. Just like the past 2 years, there will be an empty seat at the table as we celebrate. We'll light a candle and remember you. I'll say a praise of thanks on that day as I do everyday for the ways that you've changed my life and the lives of so many others.
Love,
Mommy
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