Full service gas station, redefined

I vaguely remember going to the gas station with my father when I was a child and an attendant would fill the tank, wash our windshield and check under the hood.  By the time I started to drive, self service was the 'new' thing.  Now, you don't necessarily even have to interact with anyone when filling your gas tank.  Yesterday, I happened to go inside a gas station, and later realized that I'd left my cell phone there.  When I returned to pick it up today, it had not only been set aside for me, but the attendant saw that the battery was low and charged it.  My father would be happy to know that some level of full service does still exist at the gas stations that he once frequented 40 years ago, it's just redefined.

12 words of Christmas

We are in the throes of planning for Christmas.  What relatives will visit when, how much we can afford to spend, what picture will we put on the card, will the tree fall down again today?  I was fortunate enough to take a moment, amidst the chaos of planning, to watch a video yesterday called  “The Twelve Words of Christmas” by Louie Giglio.  It was truly inspirational, and grounding.  Inspired by the video, I sat with my husband and kids at dinner and shared the Cliff Notes. One of the things that stood out to me was a reference to Mary possibly praying that her child's birth not occur on that particular night in the stable. She was away from her home, about to sleep in a barn after a long day riding on a donkey, understandably exhausted.  A prayer like that would not have been surprising, but yet the answer she got was quite different.  Thinking that my kids may be able to relate to the pray for one thing, and receive something else message, I attempted to create a moment with them while re-telling the story.  I engaged the kids with questions, like were Mary and Joseph at their house when Jesus was born? "No," they quickly answered, "they were in a stable because there was no room at the inn," .  Then I asked "What do you think Mary may have prayed for that night? Do you think that she may have asked God 'please let me get home, so my child doesn't have to be born in a stable'" Without hesitation, my 10 year old said, "No, I think she was praying 'please let it be a girl, please, let it be a GIRL.'
For all those devoted families, that read scripture or follow a set ritual during the advent season, I commend you.  My attempt at doing that resulted in uncontrollable laughter around the table, although I have to believe that still counts as spreading Christmas Joy.