Grown-up Christmas List

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By Kiera Rich – KRich13@bellsouth.net

In 1979, all I wanted for Christmas was a rock tumbler.  I don’t know why.  I was 10, definitely in my “Arts & Crafts” phase and had visions of making jewelry for all my friends.  Besides, the rock tumbler just seemed like a really cool thing to have.

What I got for Christmas that year was a sleeping bag that was screen-printed to look like a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos.  Thankfully, it wasn’t “scratch & sniff”!  A week later, my parents told us they were divorcing.

On Christmas day of 1979, I was a child who wanted a rock tumbler.  On New Year’s day of 1980, I was a very young adult who would have returned every gift I’d ever gotten if it would fix a marriage I didn’t know was broken.

In 1992, Amy Grant released a Christmas CD with the song, “Grown-up Christmas List” on it.  Here are the lyrics in case you’re interested.  The song talks about Christmas wishes from an adult perspective and mentions things like wars never starting, everyone having a friend and “right” always winning out. 

I have always enjoyed the song and often wished I could add to it.  I’d like to add things like: no child ever having to choose between two parents and the word “family” actually having meaning to people again.

I thought it would be fitting for my first Christmas blog ever to be my own version of a “grown-up” Christmas list.  I will try to be succinct.  If I wrote down everything in this blog that I wish for everyone, I’d still be writing this come Christmas 2018.  I think Jeff may want Christmas dinner (Such as it is.) before then.

My Grown-up Christmas list (In no particular order.)

Every child would have someone outside of their immediate family who loves them unconditionally, who prays for them, who takes an interest in their life.  Someone who gently and lovingly shapes them into the person God wants them to be.

Every child would have the opportunity to learn how to play the musical instrument of their choice and have free access to a wide variety of books and recorded music.  They would also have unlimited art supplies, and all the time and encouragement necessary to create something that was pleasing — not to the world as a whole but just to the artist that I believe lives in every child.

Every child would have the opportunity for a good education.  Every child would have involved, patient, enthusiastic teachers — teachers who care enough to demand excellence from every student.

Every child would have the chance to attend a Broadway musical, see the “Nutcracker” at Christmas time, and experience all the sights and smells and sounds and heart-swelling patriotism of an amazing fireworks display with the “1812 Overture” booming in the background.

Every child would have the chance to travel — to see the oceans and the mountains.  To visit another culture, experience someone else’s life, and to see the places where history was made.

Every child would have a reliable hero.  A hero with no arrests, convictions, or even remotely unethical behavior of any kind.  They would have a hero who teaches good things simply by the life they lead.  Nobody — especially not a child — should have to witness a hero’s fall from grace.  Ask me sometime about the cat I named after O.J Simpson.

Every child would have a friend.  A best friend.  A friend that tells you the truth when you don’t want to hear it, doesn’t get jealous when you achieve something they don’t.  A friend who sits with you in the lunchroom when everyone else is teasing you about your smiley face underwear or the really bad perm your mom gave you over the weekend.

Every child would be loved.  Every child would have a childhood.  No child would be forced to grow up too quickly or to assume adult responsibilities and worries before they are adults.  No child would be hurt or lied to.  No child.  No where.  Not ever.

Every child would have a safe and warm place to live.  A place to go when the world is against them.  A place where they can express their thoughts and ideas without ridicule.  A place where they are valued and appreciated.  They would have access to good health care, enough good food to eat, enough warm clothes to wear, and enough time to simply enjoy it. 

And every child would have the opportunity to learn about the birth of baby Jesus and the plan that God had for His life and for their own life.

Every adult would have a job where they get paid enough to live on while doing something they love doing.  Nobody would have to work more than one job just to make ends meet.

Every adult would have the opportunity to own a home in a safe neighborhood and to experience the peace that comes from being able to call neighbors “friends”.

Every adult would have time to spend with their children.  Time to tell stories and chase butterflies and talk about important things like bugs and rocks and whether or not ducks wear pants.

Every adult would have a heritage and ancestors they were proud of and have the joy of knowing where they came from.

Every adult would have a hobby that they enjoyed doing, enough money to support said hobby, and people in their life that encourage them. 

Just like the kids, every adult should have a best friend too.  Someone who can be invited to a pity party.  Someone who will love them when they’re angry or irrational.  Someone who will take care of them or kick their hind-quarters – whichever reaction the situation calls for.  Someone who will lovingly point them to the truth, no matter how many times they need it.  Someone who will make them laugh even when nothing seems funny.

Every adult would have the chance and the resources to chase a dream.  Any dream will do.

Every adult would experience the joy and wonder that comes from being a victim of a random act of kindness.  Every adult would also experience the amazing feeling of passing on that random kindness to someone else.

Every adult would have a good doctor.  One that values their opinions and is willing to go the extra mile to help when the situation is warranted.

Every adult would have a mentor — someone who has been where they are and walked the path they’re walking.

Every adult would laugh daily, touch often, and be moved to tears by something beautiful at least once a year.

Every adult would know, because they’d been told, how they touched someone else’s life.

Every adult would be part of a growing, loving, soul-feeding church family. 

Every adult would have someone to care about them their entire life.  No, it doesn’t have to be the same person, just somebody.  Someone to read to them when their eyes can no longer make out the words.  Someone to go to the doctor with them when the diagnosis is scary.  Someone to listen to their stories — even though they’ve heard them all before.  Someone to send a birthday card even though they’ve seen more than 100 birthdays.  Someone to hold their hand and fight for dignity and peace and comfort in their death. 

And everyone would be spending Christmas with someone they love. 

I know I am.   I hope you are too.

Merry Christmas.

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Tags: Amy Grant, childhood, christian life, Christmas, Christmas gift, divorce, Grown-up Christmas list, religion