(#SmallWonder friends, this post is late!  My apologies.  We will be taking a break from linking up next Monday (12/28) and I’ll see you back here again January 4th.)

I tried to
make Christmas cookies twice this December. 

The first
was a batch of chocolate covered peanut butter balls.  I mixed the no-bake batter quickly before the
buses brought the older kids home, then I shaped them into balls while all four
watched TV.  Lining a tray with parchment
paper, I put them in the refrigerator to chill, thinking we would roll them in
chocolate after dinner.

Then my
oldest son threw up. 

The next day
he stayed home sick and by the third day the moment had passed.  The peanut butter balls sat naked in the
refrigerator, stale and shrunken.  “Just
eat them,” I said, at last.

Yesterday, a
week after my initial attempt, I mixed two batches of cookie dough – classic cut-out
sugar cookies and Martha Stewart’s chocolate peppermint cookies.  I put them, covered, in the refrigerator to
chill. 

And then,
yes, my older son threw up again.
 

Baking
cookies lost its appeal and I pulled the last bags of Thanksgiving’s turkey-barley
soup out of the freezer to thaw for dinner. 
Today he’s home sick again and I completed my first “professional”
interview in years over the phone while he sat watching TV.  The
call was dropped once and a visitor came to the door mid-conversation.  This afternoon we’ll head to the pediatrician’s
office, again.

//

Last week I
met with my Spiritual Director.  She told
me, in the nicest way possible, that I’m not the center of the universe.  Also, when I complained about not being able
to do. it. all., she asked me, “What is most important to you during this
season?” 

“Attending
to the mystery,” I said, “staying alert for all the ways Christ creeps in among
us.”

Of course,
that means I might need to let go of some other things. 

Like baking cookies. 

What do you need to let go of this week?  What’s most important for you to hold onto in the midst of the holiday rush?  


*   *   *

Welcome to the #SmallWonder link-up.

What if we chose to deliberately look for the small moments of wonder, the small sparks of presence, of delight or sorrow, of true humanity in which we meet God? 

That’s my proposal – that we gather here each week to share one moment of Wonder from each of our days.  

You’re invited to link-up a brief post about a small moment of wonder.  Don’t worry if your post is too long, too short, or not just right – you’re welcome to come as you are.  

While you’re here, please do take a look around and encourage at least one other blogger with a comment.  

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