“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…”
Actually, at our house, it’s been looking a lot like Christmas for more than a couple of weeks now. We went to get our Christmas tree and decorated it together. We got out our snowflake dishes for setting the table with the snowflake table-cloth, napkins and runner my precious ones made for me. We’ve been drinking hot chocolate with a mint in it, and the kids have hung the paper snowflakes and lights in the dining room and kitchen.
Along with Christmas time also comes the Christmas music. We like so many different artists and arrangements of all the Christmas songs! This year the kids have been listening to a newly released set of Christmas songs by a jazz artist they’re familiar with. One of the songs he sings is “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” However, it seems to me he may have changed some of the words, or added his own verses, or maybe I’ve just never heard this verse before. Right in the middle of the song this line is sung, “and Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to come again.”
Each time this line is sung out from the speakers in our house, one of my teenagers, often Annie, Josiah or Lizzy, comes closer to me and says, “That’s really sad!” Then I get a hug and some snuggles. They’re wanting to communicate to me that they KNOW there’s nothing in me that wishes and hopes for the time they will get away from me, and that they love being loved by me. They’re saddened at the thought that there are parents out there who truly feel this way toward their children.
The very common parental attitude reflected in this line is so very sad to me too! I can’t imagine hoping that my children could be somewhere else and waiting with anticipation for that time. Why would I want that?!
Of course we know what sponsors the attitude, “I’m looking forward to when you are off doing something else besides burdening me with your presence.” This attitude isn’t limited to families where the children go off to school. Homeschool parents are just as capable of having and expressing this attitude at various times toward their children as well. We would see this attitude in homes where selfishness and the broken relationships that result from selfishness are commonplace, where the Gospel message of Jesus’ birth hasn’t yet been understood, where there is ill will among the family members.
ill will—the opposite of friendship; a fixed or rooted hostility; having a fixed negative attitude towards another or others; ready to injure others by with-holding affection, emotionally punishing, using words to hurt and wound or being quick to be offended; rejoicing in the misfortunes of others; unfavorable; ungracious, unmerciful, unforgiving.
I much prefer to hear the Gospel message from Luke, brought by the angels at Jesus’ birth, and sung in Christmas songs, “Peace on earth good will among men.”
“Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of His goodwill, of His favor].” ~ Luke 2:14
What is being expressed from your heart and the hearts of your children toward each other this Christmas season? Is it ill will, or good will, peace and favor?
I don’t know of a Christmas song using these words from 2 Cor 5:18-21.
“All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and Him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what He is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them.”
Perhaps we should write a Christmas song to this verse! It is what I think of when I hear, “Peace on earth good will toward men.”
Thank You, Lord, for sending us Your Son, Jesus, so we can come into Your ways of love, and experience Your glory—peace and good will with You, and in our family relationships!
I pray you have a blessed Christmas as you allow the Lord to draw you toward His peace and freely flowing good will!
~ Barbie Poling
Barbie, thank you for your article “Ill Will or Good Will”. This is just for me, for it struck a chord very LOUD with me. It seems the Lord is showing me some things about myself that arent pleasant to look at. One being my quick temper, and impatience and yes ill will around my family, mostly my children. and of course it is being reflected back at me and I am very saddened by it. I must change. And through reading God’s Word and different things, He has certainly convicted me that I am the total opposite of gracious. The time is now to change. But how does this change take place? I’ve come from a upbringing of heavy criticism, judgmentalism, and impatience and it has hurt me terribly. I MUST not turn around and instill these same hurts into my own children. How is it that my heart is filled with the Holy Spirit, and yet I do these things? Can you give me a tip or a place to start? And by the way, I tried homeschooling last year, and was an utter failure. Even though it is still my heart’s desire to homeschool, I feel that it was a disaster. Thanks for reading this and any reply would be appreciated. Caroline Gearhart
Caroline,
I’m glad to hear of your desire to listen to the conviction of the Lord. I recommend you read Marilyn Howshall’s book Empowering the Transfer of Moral Values and Faith. This is a very practical book about how to bring God’s moral standard for right relating into your own life, and into your family. You can find it here http://www.transfermoralvalues.com
I also recommend you join the facebook discussion group HEM (Home Educated Mom) where we regularly discuss how to love our children the way the Lord loves them. Type “Home Educated Mom” into your search bar, and then click “request to join the group”.
I would also direct you to a short article with some encouragement for the new homeschooler. From this article, you might be able to see what was going on when you tried to homeschool, and receive some encouragement to try again. http://www.lifestyleoflearning.org/NewtoHS/outofschool.php
Blessings to you ~ Barbie