Blog

My Grown Up Christmas List - Three Things to Adulting the Right Way
Tuesday, December 13, 2022 by Cindy Sproles

Image by Sabine Kroschel from Pixabay I love Amy Grant’s Christmas song, My Grownup Christmas List. I consider it a Christmas classic. Click the link at the end to hear the song. And we’ll use these as our three things to do adulting the right way.

Over the last two years, our family has slid up and down the hills of life. We’ve faced financial hardship (survived), the fatal diagnosis of cancer (beat that), and the loss of people we love. Some are rough, others are just reality. To say it was easy – well, that’s no easier for us than anyone else that skates over the thin ice of life, but we’ve had three things that have pulled us over every hump:

1) Our faith – First and foremost, I believe clinging to our faith has been the redemption and savior for the Prince and me both.

2) Our family – Our immediate family, the boys and their wives, our grandsons, and our siblings. Secondly, our church family – those folks who stood in faith by our side.

3) Our friends – These folks include our church friends and our friends outside that circle. Friends are valuable.

That would be the first list of three ways to do adulting the right way. I remember being an active Mary Kay consultant (back in the days when I had three jobs to help us stay afloat). One of the things that impressed me about the company was how they prioritized life. Mary Kay would always tell consultants God first, family second, and career third. Those were wise words, and though I’m sure she’s not the first one to utilize them in training. When you follow that standard, you have three good ways to do adulting the right way.  This is a valuable list to help you keep your eye on what is important. There you go...the second list.

I suppose my own list is based on these. You could get picky and say they are the same, but I think when you see how I apply those lists to me, you might have a better picture of why it works.

My grownup Christmas list begins like this:

1) To seek after the Master harder than ever so I can learn to be what He wants me to be.

2) To faithfully pray for my children. God has blessed us with four fine young men who have become amazing adults. I pray that He will fill them, move in their hearts, and fill the void that may lead them astray or away.

3)To be kinder, smarter, more generous, more prayerful, a better helper, more faithful, tender, happy, present in the moment, aware of the needs of others, a faithful witness, more willing, grateful, and more able to follow Christ’s command – Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Two years ago, we began this crisis of faith by answering God with a “yes.” He asked us, “Do you trust me? Do you accept my will regardless?” We cried, prayed, and even grew frustrated that cancer would strike someone like Tim, the kindest man around. But ultimately, we stood and held our hands high, united in faith, and said, “Yes, God. We accept your will – regardless.” February 2, 2020 was the first time we heard the song Waymaker. That was the day we held our hands up and said yes. Our friend Greg took this picture from the rear of the church, and we have held it close to our hearts as a reminder. 
 
I’ve learned that when you say yes to God, you will experience a crisis of faith because that’s when the evil one works his hardest to tear you down and away. Faith was tested on February 5, when Tim underwent the surgery that would either save or kill him. God was merciful, and Tim is, without a doubt, alive by His mercy. We are different because of this. Different in ways that I can’t really explain except to say that we both feel filled but hungry – if that makes sense.
 
I’ve heard people say to pray and ask God to break your heart for what breaks His. As my heart broke when they pushed Tim through the surgery doors, God cried along with me. I sat on the floor, head pressed into my arms, sobbing, but what I cried was, God, he is yours. I trust in your will.” And I promise I felt His arm around me. His head pressed against mine. His tears dripping onto my arm.
 
My boys saw the love of real friends and church family when they met three families who drove from our church and one college friend and his wife, who drove from St. Louis, to stand in the hospital while we waited for a six-seven hour surgery to end. Three hours later, the doctor called to say it was a team best. Three and one-half hours, four doctors working simultaneously, and not one blood transfusion. Tim survived. They removed his bladder, prostate, a ureter, scrapped his kidneys, cleaned his abdomen, rebuilt a ureter and a stoma, and biopsied his spleen, liver, and kidneys. This cancer was a normal death sentence. Yet we trusted in His will. And His will, was mercy.
 
I am a different person two years later. My heart aches at the sadness in the world, the anger, the hate. But I rejoice in knowing that I am a child of God who has learned adulting the right way. It isn’t easy, but it’s right. This is my grownup Christmas list – Love the Lord. Love your family. Work for His fullness in the world. Ponder your Christmas list and see just how long it is. Maybe give my lessons in adulting a try.
 

MY GROWNUP CHRISTMAS LIST – AMY GRANT – Click and Play

Photo 1: Image by Sabine Kroschel from Pixabay    Photo 2: Greg Spillman

Share This Blog:


Comments

Melody Morrison From Mooresville, NC At 12/15/2022 10:10:15 PM

Funny. When I read your blog entry, I had just listened to a 2004 YouTube concert of Amy Grant and Vince Gill. I love both their voices. Wonderful reminder of what really matters. Thanks, Cindy.

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

Hugs back to you.

Edwina E Cowgill From GA At 12/14/2022 7:08:16 PM

Excellent testimony!

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

Thank you. God is faithful.

MICHAEL L RICHARD From Davis, CA At 12/14/2022 6:55:38 PM

Very Timely!

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

Thank you

Sandra Chambers From NC At 12/14/2022 9:56:55 AM

What an amazing and encouraging testimony to God’s faithfulness!

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

We are blessed.

Dee Nichols From PA At 12/14/2022 9:10:27 AM

Your testimony and faithful witness are a light in the darkness. Praise be to our God in heaven for his healing power and goodness. Happy for you that this ended in deliverance and peace. ???? - nicely written. Have a blessed new year.

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

Thank you. He is good.

Jan Loyd From Dayton, OH At 12/14/2022 8:32:06 AM

Beautiful, Cindy. We are so grateful to be the recipient of God fulfilling number three through you to us. Have a blessed Christmas with your number 2???? Jan

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

Blessings to you as well.

Ane Mulligan From Sugar Hill, Georgia At 12/14/2022 7:01:08 AM

Cindy, I knew some of this but not the extent of how dangerous Tim's surgery was. I prayed but only you and God knew. This blessed me as I read it through tear-filled eyes. But it becomes even more of a blessing as you prayed me through my cancer scare while you were going through this. love you!

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

I love you too Ane. It was a scary time. But God is faithful...to us all. I'm glad you are good.

Mountain Breeze Writer


Previous Posts

Allergic to Exercise
Cindy Sproles

10/18/2024

Rose By Any Other Name...
Cindy Sproles

10/15/2024

Never Look Back
Cindy Sproles

8/2/2024

Words Have Power
Cindy Sproles

7/12/2024

Those Hallmark Holidays
Cindy Sproles

5/12/2024

Deep and Wide or Sick and Tired?
Cindy Sproles

12/18/2023

What Would Jesus Do?
Cindy Sproles

11/10/2023

Chick, Chick, Chick
Cindy K. Sproles

9/30/2023

In My Inperfections
Cindy K. Sproles

8/27/2023

By the Hair of my Chinny, Chin, Chin
Cindy Sproles

7/21/2023

What Dumb Cluck!
Cindy K. Sproles

6/29/2023

Where to Draw the Line?
Cindy Sproles

4/27/2023

Submit! ME?
Cindy Sproles

4/14/2023

Why Are People So Mean?
Cindy Sproles

3/30/2023

I'm Getting Old
Cindy K. Sproles

3/3/2023

To Hear or Not to Hear
Cindy Sproles

1/28/2023

Happy New Year, Happy New Year News
Cindy Sproles

1/9/2023

Happy Neuter Year
Cindy Sproles

12/31/2022

Facing Reality - Aging Parents, Aging Children
Cindy Sproles

12/30/2022

Word of the Year for 2023
Cindy Sproles

12/24/2022

My Grown Up Christmas List - Three Things to Adulting the Right Way
Cindy Sproles

12/13/2022

Weebles Wobble but They Don't Fall Down
Cindy Sproles

12/6/2022

The Man In the Middle
Cindy Sproles

11/24/2022

Diversity is More Than Color
Cindy K. Sproles

11/14/2022

Love in Motion
Cindy Sproles

11/7/2022

Deadbeat or Deadline
Cindy Sproles

10/31/2022

Backstory - The Reader Doesn't Care!
Cindy Sproles

10/18/2022

The Color of Scared - The Final in Seeking Spiritual Renewal
Cindy Sproles

10/14/2022

The Color of Scared - Second of Three in Seeking Spiritual Freedom from Fear
Cindy Sproles

10/9/2022

The Color of Scared - First of Three in Seeking Spiritual Freedom from Fear
Cindy Sproles

10/3/2022

Fog, Mist, Morning
Cindy Sproles

9/29/2022

From a Rooster to a Hen
Cindy Sproles

9/24/2022

Writing from the Hip
Cindy Sproles

9/19/2022

Soggy Scrubby and the Long Goodbye
Cindy Sproles

9/13/2022

Wramping Up for ACWC
Cindy Sproles

9/10/2022

Rest Not, Want MORE!
Cindy Sproles

9/3/2022

Reality for Me
Cindy Sproles

8/17/2022

The Truth in Publishing
Cindy Sproles

8/11/2022

Beyond
Cindy Sproles

8/4/2022

Working with an Editor
Cindy Sproles

7/7/2022

Two on the Way
Cindy Sproles

2/26/2022

The Party's Overrrrr!
Cindy Sproles

2/22/2022

2022 Encouragement for the Writer
Cindy Sproles

1/4/2022

Every Day is New
Cindy Sproles

1/1/2022

Beginning Anew (An Eldercare Note)
Cindy Sproles

12/31/2021

Five Ways to Kill Your Publishing Opportunity
Cindy Sproles

12/30/2021

A Dollar Wisely Spent
Cindy Sproles

12/28/2021

Silent Night
Cindy Sproles

12/25/2021

Back Pocket Projects
Cindy Sproles

12/21/2021

Things are Back on Track - I think!
Cindy Sproles

12/18/2021

Wonky is Hard
Cindy Sproles

4/25/2021

Present Yourself Approved and Professional
Cindy Sproles

1/28/2021

Integrity - An Authors Valued Trait
Cindy Sproles

1/8/2021

Homonyms – Did You Sea/See Them Their/There?
Cindy Sproles

1/8/2021

Writer Self-Care - Welcome 2021
Cindy Sproles

1/4/2021

Hope in a New Year
Cindy Sproles

1/1/2021

One More Christmas Thought - Taken from ChristianDevotions.US blog
Cindy Sproles

12/25/2020

A Christmas Saga - Joy in the Season
Cindy Sproles

12/24/2020

When Writing Grows Hard
Cindy Sproles

12/22/2020

Permission to Quit - No Way
Cindy Sproles

12/18/2020

The Power of the Pen
Cindy Sproles

12/15/2020

The Good, The Bad, and the Memoir
Cindy Sproles

12/11/2020

The Immeasurable Power in You
Cindy Sproles

12/8/2020

Scratch It Till It Bleeds
Cindy Sproles

12/5/2020

Closing Up Shop - Renting or Selling Our Parent's Home
Cindy Sproles

9/5/2020

Humility in Writing
Cindy Sproles

7/7/2020

Let it Percolate
Cindy Sproles

7/3/2020

Mentoring - A Wise Choice
Cindy Sproles

6/29/2020

Divorce My Words?
Cindy Sproles

6/23/2020

Icy Self-Talk Will Freeze Your Writing
Cindy Sproles

6/19/2020

The Power in You
Cindy Sproles

6/16/2020

Waiting
Cindy Sproles

6/12/2020

Who Really Sells Your Books
Cindy Sproles

6/9/2020

Social Media When You Aren't Social Media Minded
Cindy Sproles

4/20/2020

What Really Is Important
Cindy Sproles

4/12/2020

In the Midst of Chaos
Cindy Sproles

3/17/2020

The Heart of God
Cindy Sproles

2/14/2020

Writing in a Pickle
Cindy Sproles

1/30/2020

The Adult Day Care Alternative
Cindy Sproles

1/23/2020

Social Media Blitz
Cindy Sproles

1/19/2020

The Joys of Aging
Cindy Sproles

12/30/2019

The Reality of Who We Are?
Cindy Sproles

12/22/2019

Publishing Trends
Cindy Sproles

11/30/2019

Be Thankful ANYWAY
Cindy Sproles

11/28/2019

Writing Your Mission Statement
Cindy Sproles

11/19/2019

Perseverance to Write
Cindy

11/16/2019

Common Sense Tips for When You Write
Cindy Sproles

11/9/2019

The Battle is Fought
Cindy

10/15/2019

Twelve Tidbits of Wisdom from Top Christian Writers
Cindy Sproles

10/5/2019

Pray with Fire
Cindy Sproles

10/3/2019

The Easy In
Cindy Sproles

9/24/2019

The Art of Self-Editing
Cindy Sproles

9/10/2019

Questions, Questions
Cindy Sproles

9/6/2019

15-Minute Appointments - Important Networking
Cindy Sproles

9/3/2019

Don't Close Your Eyes - Bob Hostetler
Cindy Sproles

2/5/2019

Love Your Faculty
Cindy Sproles

10/17/2018

Forging Ahead after Rejection
Cindy Sproles

7/17/2018

cindysproles.com Privacy Policy
Cindy Sproles

6/4/2018

Closing Up Shop - Guiding Seniors to Letting Go
Cindy Sproles

4/9/2018

Publishing Naysayers
Cindy Sproles

3/16/2018

In Prayer - I Write
Cindy Sproles

3/3/2018

Keep Them Reading
Cindy Sproles

1/12/2018

Encouraged - Even When . . .
Cindy Sproles

1/2/2018

Christmas Tears
Cindy Sproles

12/18/2017

Holiday Elder Care - Be an Elder Elf
Cindy Sproles

11/12/2017

Grateful for a Dream I Didn't Know I Had
Cindy Sproles

11/9/2017

Keep Them Reading
Cindy Sproles

11/1/2017

Chicken Soup for the Soul - Writer Call Out
Cindy Sproles

10/27/2017

Five Ways to Assure Your Work will Find the Slush Pile
Cindy Sproles

10/24/2017

23rd Psalm Revisited
Cindy Sproles

10/21/2017

Contentment in Writing
Cindy Sproles

10/19/2017

5 Common Sense Tips to Better Writing
Cindy Sproles

10/10/2017

Overshadowed
Cindy Sproles

8/21/2017

Chicken Soup for the Soul Callout - Stories about Love
Cindy Sproles

8/21/2017

Five Keys to Overcoming Rejection
Cindy Sproles

8/12/2017

Writing Call Out - Chicken Soup for the Soul
Cindy Sproles

8/10/2017

When Words of Encouragement Wane
Cindy Sproles

6/28/2017

Writing Truth with Love
Cindy Sproles

1/13/2017

Oh To Be A Writer
Cindy Sproles

1/4/2017

Why Write?
Cindy Sproles

1/1/2017

Scammed
Cindy Sproles

6/21/2016

The Pain of Unsolicited
Cindy Sproles

3/9/2016

Not Alone: A Literary and Spiritual Companion for Those Confronted with Infertility and Miscarriage
Cindy Sproles

11/21/2015

Thankful Despite . . .
Cindy Sproles

11/20/2015

Stepping Up to Na-No-Wri-Mo
Cindy Sproles

11/16/2015

The Gift of No Gifts
Cindy Sproles

11/2/2015

Writers Be Encouraged
Cindy Sproles

10/15/2015

Keep ‘Em Reading – It’s the Writer’s Responsibility
Cindy Sproles

8/13/2015

Saying Goodbye
Cindy Sproles

7/17/2015

Overcoming the Fear of Writing Failure
Cindy Sproles

7/8/2015

Making the Move – Home to Assisted Living
Cindy Sproles

6/17/2015

I Kid You Not
Cindy Sproles

6/6/2015

Hearing the Call to Foster – Renee McCausey
Cindy Sproles

1/13/2015

Throw Out the Crutches
Cindy Sproles

1/10/2015

So You Were Asked to Be A Beta Reader?
Cindy Sproles

1/10/2015

REJECTIONS – Aaughhh!
Cindy Sproles

1/5/2015

The Bachelor – Stephanie Reed
Cindy Sproles

12/14/2014

The Making of a Servant
Cindy Sproles

11/30/2014

Miracle in a Dry Season Review – Yvonne Lehman
Cindy Sproles

8/27/2014

Write Anyway
Cindy Sproles

8/26/2014

World Blog Tour – Catching Up with Cindy Sproles
Cindy Sproles

7/22/2014

The Progression of Life
Cindy Sproles

7/17/2014

Instrumental Writing Helps – Aaron Gansky
Cindy Sproles

7/4/2014

The Question Saga
Cindy Sproles

6/29/2014

Defy the Night – REVIEW
Cindy Sproles

4/28/2014

When the Work is Hard to Do
Cindy Sproles

4/1/2014

My Heart Belongs to Him
Cindy Sproles

2/14/2014

Review of The Vicar’s Wife
Cindy Sproles

2/2/2014

The In on Self Publishing – Part 2
Cindy Sproles

12/29/2013

The In on Self Publishing – Part 1
Cindy Sproles

12/26/2013

In a Pickle
Cindy Sproles

10/1/2013

Bigger and Better
Cindy Sproles

9/27/2013

Putting SOCIAL back in Media
Cindy Sproles

8/10/2013

After the Conference Ends…
Cindy Sproles

8/8/2013

Here a Tweak, There a Tweak, Everywhere a Tweak, Tweak
Cindy Sproles

8/2/2013

Can You Hear Me Now?
Cindy Sproles

7/23/2013

Golden Years, Cherished Moments
Cindy Sproles

3/20/2013

Broken Heart Syndrome
Cindy Sproles

9/26/2012

What About Our Elders
Cindy Sproles

8/24/2012

A Minute – A Lifetime
Cindy Sproles

8/10/2012

Water, Water – Who’s Got the Water
Cindy Sproles

7/31/2012