These are words that you don't expect to hear coming out of the mouth of a two-year-old. Alas, this is what is being yelled from the back seat of my SUV as I try and find the right on-the-go music for my dear L. I totally don't understand this phenomenon since I completely lack an ear for music.
Several years ago, BJ would drive me crazy with the question, "Quick, tell me who sings this," as the song was beginning to play. My usual response was "I dunno....uhhh...U2" (since that's my hubby's favorite band and there was an 87.9% chance that's who would be in the CD player). Then he'd say "No, you know who it is. Listen." These words are baffling to me. I don't have the gift of tonal memory and listening more intently probably won't get me closer to the correct answer.
As L's music repertoire expands, she's now requesting opera, Bocelli, Beethoven, and Borodin. And there is no sneaking and trying to work in Mozart or Bach if that's not what she has requested. She truly knows the difference! I welcome these requests for opera and classical because when set on repeat they are much more ear-friendly than Pinky Dinky Doo or Elvis' Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me.
I was hauling my youngin's to a doctor appointment this morning (that's another blog entry for another time). Sometime between taking a sip of mocha while searching the iPod for "more cymbals" (thanks Wesley for this one!) and driving about 70-mph, it occurred to me that I'm not as safe of a driver as I thought I was. And then I became extremely paranoid of every SUV on the road assuming that the driver must also be a caffeinated, kid-hauling, soccer mom who was making poor driving choices because she was trying to maintain the peace in the back seat. So instead of pulling over the speeding two-seater sports cars driving 90-mph, cops really should focus their attention on us multi-tasking-5-mph-over-the-speed-limit-so-we're-not-easily-detected-caffeinated-SUV-drivers.
As I was driving home this evening via a route that takes me past downtown, I noticed that not as many Christmas lights adorned the buildings. In the past, almost every building in downtown had at least one lighted tree and many of the buildings had multiples. This year it seems different.
So many times on the news or through chain emails, I get the latest update on which retailer or government sect is refusing to use "Christmas" in their advertising, or not allowing the use of "religious" symbols in their holiday decorations. And because of this constant bombardment of messages from the news, email groups, friends, and family, I cannot help but look at a Christmas tree (or lack of) differently.
As I drove past downtown, I began thinking about why these businesses didn't have lighted trees this year. Did they make a conscious effort to avoid all Christmas decorations? Maybe they decided it would be too risky? Or, maybe it could potentially drive away patrons who didn't celebrate Christmas?
Then, suddenly, I realized that I had allowed a bunch of Christmas grinches to steal my joy and fill my head with critical thoughts. Instead of focusing on the wonderous Gift we celebrate this time of year, I was focusing on my hatred for all the grinches. Isn't this exactly what they have in mind? Isn't their ultimate plan to steal away my joy at Christmas and forever? To move my focus away from the One who gives me joy?
It was in the moment of this wonderful relevation that I remembered about the shepherds and the wise men:
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. (Matt 2:10-11)
But the angel said to (the shepherds), "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." (Luke 2:10)
Joy, and from Whom it flows, shall be my focus today, tomorrow and always. Amen.