The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
I'm not sure where it went wrong.
We have a routine.
Every night, we sit down for dinner as a family. We light the candles in our Advent wreath. I get out the day's ornament for the Jesse tree, and I find the reading that goes along with it.
In between feeding Allie and myself, I read the story from either The Jesus Storybook Bible or Grace's pink sequin Bible, and we talk about the meaning of the story.
The tradition is genuine and sincere and comfortable.
Tonight, my perfect routine fell apart.
I was reading about shepherds and kings. The story was about David the little shepherd and David the songwriter. It included the children's version of the 23rd Psalm; God will be our shepherd no matter what.
The words moved me as I read them. Protection. Love. Never being alone.
Apparently, Joe and my children did not share my feelings.
Without warning, fracas erupted.
Joe put Grace in a headlock. She giggled and jiggled. Allie was clapping her hands and laughing a great big belly laugh.
All while I was reading,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Having been a high school teacher for ten years, I have lots of practice at ignoring the fracas. That's exactly what I did.
I kept reading.
Maybe tomorrow will be better.
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