It is strange. Back when I suggested to Sarah many weeks ago that due to the busy Christmas season this year, (Sun: Advent 4; Wed: Midweek Advent 4; Thurs: Christmas Eve; Fri: Christmas Day; Sun: Christmas 1) that she ought to take the kids back to Michigan for Christmas; it didn't really seem like a big deal to me. After all, for pastors, Christmas is really just another "work" day. Yet, two days before they were scheduled to leave, I started feeling a strange anxiousness. It was topped off by the night before, while tucking the kids in and reminding them that they were going on the train and that daddy was staying home, Eden says to me, "Well, why don't we just buy you a ticket and then you can come with us." The simplicity of a four year old.
"Daddy, will you sleep with me tonight?"
"I'll stay with you until you go to sleep."
"Ok, tell me about something."
"What would you like me to tell you about?"
"I don't know. Just talk."
After "talking" for a few minutes, Eden informed me that is was time to stop talking because she wanted to go to sleep. Laying quietly for a few moments, Eden suddenly remembered that she was missing a stuffed animal. I went to get up and get it for her, when she took my hand and just held it. Sitting up, she just looked at me and held my hand.
It was actually then that I realized what was happening. The concept of time and distance was becoming important to my 4 year old. And now I would have to come to grips with it too.
For Lars, time and distance are irrelevant. Ok, he'll miss daddy. But the here and now will easily distract. But for Eden, the wave and the blow of a kiss through a train window now actually mean that something will be missing for two weeks.
Now the idea of them being away for Christmas isn't so simple.
1 comment:
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Saludos y hasta pronto!
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