Earlier this week, I noticed that the air vent in our bedroom had some dust bunnies between the metal grill pieces. I got my duster on its long pole and realized that I couldn’t reach it. I got the small step stool out of the closet.

It was as I was starting to stand on the first step if the step stool when I remembered “Mikey.” Mikey is our robotic vacuum cleaner. (We call him “Mikey” after a Life breakfast cereal of the late 1960’s. A mom offers her kids a new cereal – Life cereal. Suspicious, the kids offer it to their younger brother, Mikey, who hates everything.)

Mikey was also in the bedroom, vacuuming the carpet. I looked at the dusting wand, the small step stool and then at Mikey. Was it possible that he could bump into the step stool and topple me? I laughed and turned off Mikey and made quick work of the dust bunnies on the vent.

But, I did have a giggle of John finding me, knocked off the stool, my arm stretched far above my head with the dusting wand far above my head while Mikey continues to wander about the room, searching for dust.

It’s a silly thought, I know. But I’ve done dumber things and will probably do dumb things again. Last night I got into a discussion that I wished I could erase from everyone’s memory today. I’ve done, said, thought and written really dumb things.

So, the question isn’t will we do something dumb but is how will we and others respond? Do we know our intentions, our heart? Is our heart in the wrong place or are we just not thinking? We want others to be gracious and understanding; but during these holiday days of activity, chaos, excess, will we be as generous, as forgiving, as gentle as we desire others to be?

Take a breath, my sweet friend, there are plenty of days left in this holiday season. Don’t wear yourself out. Stay loose and turn off or tune out the things or folks that look to be a challenge. We want to play the long game of love, mercy, generosity and grace.

Take a breath.

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)