There was something special about being a young boy at Christmas time. Anxious anticipation of what Santa was going to bring me…check. Two weeks off from school to drive my parents crazy…check. Hanging my favorite Snoopy ornament on our Christmas tree in between sips of eggnog…check.
But in case that wasn’t enough, someone along the way decided they needed to make sure all the little boys and girls knew just how special Christmas really was. And so they made TV specials. I’m talking about the classics: Frosty the Snowman, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and perhaps my favorite, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. (To be honest, when I see them on TV, I still freak out like a 3rd grader after one too many sugar cookies.)
Last week, my wife and I took our boys to Seattle for our annual Thanksgiving trip to see her side of the family. And you know what my son Kellen wanted to do every morning? Watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Now, how is this possible? Back in my day, it was on once a year, and I had to be really good and convince my parents to let me stay up late to watch it.
But Kellen watched the DVD…over…and over…and over again.
And then it hit me.
When I was a little boy, if I fell asleep too early or if my family was busy the night Rudolph aired, that was it. I missed it for an entire year. But Kellen? Kellen can watch it any time he wants to.
And this isn’t something that only applies to kids.
With Netflix, Amazon, iPhones and more, we, as adults, can have instant access to just about anything we want. And while there’s something to be said for getting what I want when I want, I couldn’t help but think: In a world of immediate, is anything special anymore?
As a dad to a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old, it’s natural to ask this question. I want to create special moments for my boys so they can reflect on their childhood with the fondness that I do. But even in my own life, I crave special moments. And as an adult, it often feels like the older I get, the less special moments I have.
But then I realized something.
Maybe instead of trying to create special moments, I just need to recognize how special each moment is.
Every day my boys hug and kiss me before I leave for work. That’s special.
Every night when I come home, my wife has a warm meal prepared for me. That’s special.
And every day when I wake up, God blesses me with the opportunity to live this beautiful adventure called life. That’s the most special of all.
As we approach Christmas and this year winds down, it can be easy to get lost in the stress and busyness that often comes with the holiday season. But this year, take some time to slow down, reflect, and enjoy the special moments in your life. God places an unlimited number of them around us, but it’s up to us to recognize them. And if you’re like me, you’ll find they appear over…and over…and over again.
Good point – right on!