Sunday, March 23, 2008

Goodbye to the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus

Thursday our 8-year-old son found our hiding place and saw the baskets and all the candy we bought for him and his sister. He started continually asking if the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus real, so we decided he's old enough to know these little facts of life.

It took many words and a fair amount of time. But basically I told him that even though the Easter Bunny isn't real, it's a symbol of something very real - the unconditional love of God for us. I told him that some people have a hard time getting their minds around this idea so we use Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny to explain it.
God loves us even when we don't love Him and gives us gifts whether or not we give anything back. He asks us to love each other the same way.

I know Santa and the Bunny are part of the commercialization of these holy days, and many people object to them. (I'm sure this has occurred to my son as well.) I understand their reasons. Just the same, on some level I still believe. We have the Bible, but we still need ways to embody this, to bring it to our own time, to make it real for us. Flawed as they are, Santa, the Bunny, the eggs and the candy help us to do that.

After all, in a way that's what the Incarnation is about. God among us, living among us in a way we can comprehend. We can't allow these symbols to overshadow the real reasons we celebrate. But I think that, in their place, they can help us.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Thank God Almighty, We Have Wheels At Last

'm a bit down today but I'm determined to post anyhow. I doubt if anyone is still listening out there, and I know it's my own fault, but I've been under the weather lately. A few weeks ago I had an infection. I didn't want to spend the money for the doctor (she does sliding scale, so it doesn't cost much, but even that little is a lot to us). By the time my husband made me go I was so sick I couldn't decide whether to go to the hospital or just save myself the trouble and die. The nurse-practitioner wasn't sure either but she gave me an industrial-strength antibiotic and in three days I felt almost human again. It could yet recur but thankfully I'm still free of it.

Also I've been really depressed. Maybe it's because of our financial situation, or perhaps my medicine isn't working anymore. I've felt suicidal a few times, but so far nothing has come of it.

Last month we found out it would take at least $1100.00 to make our old suburban run again. It might take a lot more. We had a small tax refund and a friend of my husband's was willing to lend us some money for a used car. So we finally bought a 1991 Volvo 740. Thankfully it works well so far.

I'm still trying to find another job. Unfortunately people don't line up to hire middle-aged ladies who have trouble understanding directions. The fact that I have an alomost paralyzing fear of filling out applications, and do it badly, doesn't help either. If you're so inclined, prayers would be appreciated.

Finally, a very belated thanks for all the links to asperger's sites I've received. I'm still checking them out as I have the energy. And thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Even if I'm only talking to myself it's okay. But it's good to know someone else is reading this.

Sorry about the long, depressing post. I'll try to do better later.