James 1:19 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
On the way to school this morning Clara spotted a bright orange T adorning one of the yards. "Look, Mommy, those people have a T in their yard. They must like tigers because T is for tiger." I immediately thought of how funny (or maybe irritating) her statement would be to both the fans of the bright orange University of Tennessee and their instate rival the University of Memphis Tigers.
This time of year my "misunderstanding" button gets pressed more often than I'd like to admit. Somewhere among plans, wrapping, cooking and baking, my emotions get raw and the sensitive in me surfaces. Now for poor Clara growing up with four other girls in the house her problem isn't misunderstanding, it's lack of information. But really when I think about it that's usually my problem too.
I'm too busy checking items off my list and rushing to and fro and I don't stop and listen to the other party. I wonder how different my Christmas season would look if I realized the most productive item on my list is listening to those I love.
So this December I'm going to rush less and sit more. I going to be mindful that come January the gift of an unruffled wife and mother will mean abundantly more to my family than a perfectly appointed holiday. I'm kissing misunderstanding goodbye under the mistletoe.