My Christmas Wish List

Have you ever heard of Jordan Smith? He was a contestant on the singing competition show "The Voice" a few seasons ago. I used to be a big fan of the show and I remember watching the episode when he auditioned. ALL the judges turned their chairs and were shocked because Jordan was not at all what they expected based solely on the voice they heard. But, hey! That's the whole premise of the show, right? 

Anyway, I liked Jordan because he represented something different. He wasn't trendy or strapping. He wasn't shy about performing "How Great Thou Art" or "Mary, Did you Know?" in front of millions. Best of all, he seemed completely comfortable just being himself. Based solely on looks, he was the underdog. But, then he sang and his voice was amazing. He went on to win that season in 2015 and last fall (2016), he released a holiday album. I downloaded it and heard the song, "My Grown Up Christmas List," for the first time. Have you ever heard it?


I'm not sure where the song originated, but it has also been performed by Amy Grant, Kelly Clarkson, and Michael Bublè among others. It has become one of my favorite holiday songs, not only because I like the melody, but more so because of the message. As I listen to it, I imagine most of the adults I know would fill their own grown up wish lists with many of the same things . . . . . .
No more lives torn apart by senseless tragedies and violence No more war Time would really heal all broken hearts Everyone would have a friend Right would always win (If only we could all agree on what's "right") Love would never end
Sounds pretty great, doesn't it? For my own wish list, I would add . . . . 
Kindness would always prevail Children would never be hungry or unloved or abused Everyone would have something to believe in and a little magic in their lives

Of course, if I really got to write up a list and send it off to the North Pole, I would have to ask that jolly old elf for a few, more selfish things, too. I would wish for . . . .
A special eraser to make middle school girl drama disappear A house cleaning fairy that appears whenever I snap my fingers  A shopping spree at a few of my favorite stores A little more time and inspiration for blogging  A little more time and energy to connect (or re-connect) with friends  A parenting manual with all the answers I need for raising tween/teen girls A winning powerball ticket stuffed in my stocking! 
Ha! While some of those would certainly be nice (although perhaps unrealistic), the truth is, my life is overflowing with blessings. I think that, especially at Christmas, when we are bombarded with commercials and advertisements selling us all the gizmos and gadgets we don't really need, it's easy to lose sight of what we already have. The lyrics of this song remind us that there are more important things than just more "stuff." 
I hope that, this holiday season, you are surrounded by many blessings, too. I hope that you can take time to put the hustle and bustle aside and make a little room for peace, love, and joy. I hope that, if you are hurting, you will find healing. I hope that, if you are joy-filled, you will not take it for granted. I hope that you will laugh, smile, hug, and be hugged. I hope that you are safe, warm, and loved.