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I try to be Christ-like. I try to do the right things. I try to say the right words. I try to think the right thoughts.
I try to smile at people as they pass. I try to support the appropriate causes. I try to love my neighbors even when they don’t love me back. I try to be kind and supportive to those in need.
Every day, I try to be like Christ.
Every day, I fail. I laugh at the wrong joke. I pass judgment on someone else’s life. I turn a blind eye to life’s injustice.
Dawn was breaking with the sun not quite peaking through the window yet. I feel a light tap on the side of the bed and peel my eyes open to see Squirts’ fully-opened eyes and huge grin.
“Come on Daddy! Get Mommy! It’s time to get up! It’s time to GET UUPPPP!!”
Only Christmas morning could bring that much enthusiasm at this hour of the day. The excitement of the unknown. The long-awaited anticipation of Santa’s visit finally realized. The weeks of preparation coming to fruition. It’s almost too much to bear!
But here’s the rub: it’s not Christmas morning. It’s the morning after Christmas. In addition to the big smile, Squirts has in his hand his favorite gift from the morning before. It appears that Squirts is still on some sort of Christmas high. He’s clearly still feeling the Christmas love. For Squirts, the excitement of Christmas day has spilled over into the day after.
I’m a wannabe environmentalist. Humanity has put a huge strain on the earth and it’s up to us to revise our way of life to repair and prevent future damage. But if I’m completely honest, I don’t really do my fair share. Yes, we recycle more than we throw away. We adjust our thermostats so we’re cold in the winter and hot in the summer. And I don’t run the water while I brush my teeth.
But, I don’t always remember to take my reusable mug to Starbucks. I commute in my car, by myself more than 30 minutes to work every day. I love the personal-sized package of Oreo cookies. And as a parent, there are some moments I believe even the most ardent, earth-loving, card-carrying environmentalist would buckle to ozone burning temptation. Here are a few temptations to which I’ve fallen prey:
Today, as I sit down to write this post, Squirts sees me pop open the computer and asks me what I’m doing. I tell him I’ve got a little work to do. He says he has work to do too, and asks if he could get on the other computer. For him, that work is ridding the world of bad guys and aliens on online games for kids.
And he takes his work seriously! He jumps up and down when he makes a good shot. He stands up in his chair and punches away at the keys as the action intensifies. The expressions on his face squeeze and pinch into shapes never seen before. He provides constant background dialogue of “Pow, pow!” “Get away you little guys!” “Hi-Yas!” and “Gotchas!” throughout the game.
