Feeling Grinchy

The Definition of GRINCH*           

: killjoy, spoilsport

Examples of GRINCH

1. Only a grinch would complain about the movie's silly plot.
2. <accused the mayor of being a grinch after he cancelled the city's annual holiday parade for budgetary reasons>

 

Origin of GRINCH

from the Grinch, character in the children's story How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957) by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)

First Known Use: 1966 

 

Related to GRINCH

Synonyms: drag, killjoy, party pooper, spoilsport, wet blanket

Not flattering. A killjoy?! Ouch. A Party Pooper?! Ugh. Wet Blanket?! Eww. 

Those names do not bring to mind a Daughter of The King. Those descriptions are not things I want associated with my name. I mean the visuals they bring to mind are bad enough! My mind's eye pictures a little gargoyle with a bow and arrow shooting down joyful moments like the fictional Cupid brings love during February. I shudder to think of what a wet blanket feels like during December in Minnesota. Party Pooper... well we won't go there.

  

No one wants to be a Grinch! 

Yet with all of this Christmas Hullabaloo about us and all of my attempting to make Christmas simpler for this year I am feeling a bit....  Grinchy.  

I don't want to steal anyone's presents.

I don't want to ruin anyone's day.

I have no want to hurt feelings.

I am not wishing to cause my children to dislike this time of the year.

I am not intentionally being Grouchy or Grinchy. 

I'm just not feeling 'normal' about the whole holiday season and I have begun to be a bit cranky about the whole messy business that is Christmas.

source

  

 So the question is: Why?

I could blame it on a bad year. (And it has been a whopper.)

I could say I am just too old for the Christmas Spirit.  (Not really, that is lame.)

I could say it is a matter of my heart being so full of responsibility that 'one more thing' is one too many. (Valid, but still kind of weak.)

Or Perhaps.... for all I am trying to do... I am still getting it wrong.

It isn't about how I feel.   

This is about a promise come to life. Prophesies were fulfilled. The Father sent his son in the form of helpless, beautiful infant to be raised like us. To know what it is to hungry and to thirst. To feel the emotional bite of words that are flung carelessly. He felt the mysterious love of a mother. He saw her truth in her eyes I am sure when they found Him preaching in the temple. He turned His face to the warmth of the sun when it shone down upon Him and twisted away from the sting of wind pummeled sand. He knew the hard labor belonging to a working man. He knew human friendship and the joy it could bring while resting and praying in a safe home harbor. He knew anger and betrayal and bodily pain. Pain far to fathomless for us to really understand.  He did this.

To know us. 

To Love Us.

To Die for Us.

We say it almost too often without understanding the actual magnitude of what it means. 

To Live for Us and To Die for Us.

Whether you wanted it or not. Whether you deserve it or not. Whether you believe it or not.    

Baby Born. To Die. For Us.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 

~Isaiah 9:6-7

source

So this not about me. I'll hop down off my Grinchy horse and quit whining about why Prince Ray has yet another missing assignment which in homeschool world is still not acceptable! I will stop grumbling about Princess Petunia and her marker on my newish kitchen table. I will try to let go of the fact the plumbing has broken and backed up twice in two weeks and that the kitchen sink water faucet sprayer is now duct taped because I don't like a shower with my dishes. I need to be giving Sir Bean more positives when he is doing right instead of fussing over that one thing he did wrong. I need to check in with the Big Kids because they have felt our considerably challenging year almost as much as I have. I will shove the Grinch out and let the Peaceable, Hold-That-Tongue, Dignified Daughter of the King once more reappear and take my place at the side of my husband, Preacher Man. He feels the brunt of the Grinchitis and it is not an easy yoke when I am rebelling. 

 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”

~Proverbs 31:25-29

Always Blessed, 
Gretchen :)

Linking up with:

Cornerstone Confessions

Raising Arrows 

Modest Mom Blog 

Deep Roots At Home

The Better Mom Monday Link Up

Frugally Sustainable
Artful Homemaking 
Far Above Rubies 
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home 
Wholehearted Home 

 New King James Version (NKJV) The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, In

 *http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grinch