When my kids were young, growing up in a pastor’s house meant Christmas looked a little different. The stockings were hung, the gifts wrapped, but if Christmas fell on a Sunday? Well, those presents under the tree would just have to wait. That was the rule. Stockings, however, were fair game—because even pastors’ kids need a little joy before heading out to church early to celebrate the biggest birthday in history.
One year, Christmas was on a Sunday. I told the kids they could open their stockings before church, but the big gifts would wait until after the service. Everyone seemed okay with it, and as I looked at their excited faces that morning, I was feeling pretty good about how things were going.
Fast forward to church. Worship started, the sanctuary was full, and I sat at the piano on stage, ready to lead the congregation in celebrating the birth of Jesus. The service was off to a beautiful start. The music swelled as we began the classic hymn, What Child Is This?. I was fully immersed in the moment, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something...off.
A swirl of lime green caught my attention—a flash of movement coming from the back row. Trying to stay focused, I gave a casual glance. And there it was: my youngest son, Jacob, standing on the pew, holding his brand-new Flarp like a lasso at a cowboy roundup.
Now, in case you don’t know, Flarp is a stretchy, squishy substance designed for entertainment (and, let’s be honest, mild chaos). But Jacob had taken it to a whole new level. With the confidence of a seasoned rancher, he swung that Flarp lasso high, aiming for...Mrs. Beth Peak. Sweet Mrs. Peak, who at 80 years old, had faithfully claimed her seat a few rows in front of where Jacob was.
I was mid-hymn, singing about the baby Jesus, when I realized I had two choices: laugh or intervene. Naturally, I chose both. Keeping my worship-leader smile firmly in place (to hopefully not give away what was really happening), I shot Jacob the universal mom look—the one that says, “You better stop right now or face the consequences.” Then I added a subtle but firm wave, one that said, “Hallelujah...and sit DOWN.”
By some miracle, Jacob caught the message. He reined in his lime green lasso, sat down, and all was (mostly) well again. As I finished the hymn, one thought ran through my head: What child IS this?!
A Christmas Reflection
Christmas has a way of stirring up all kinds of moments—the unexpected, the joyful, and sometimes the bittersweet. Maybe it’s a lime green lasso moment during What Child Is This? or a memory that tugs at your heart as you think about loved ones who aren’t around the tree this year. The stockings might still be hung, but the space feels a little emptier without them.
Yet somehow, in the swirl of laughter, memories, and even a tear or two, the heart of Christmas shines through. It’s in those stories we retell every year, the traditions we carry on, and the moments that catch us off guard and remind us of the love we’ve been given.
Even the first Christmas carried the weight of both hope and wonder—shepherds running to see a newborn King, a family far from home, and a baby whose arrival would change everything. It wasn’t polished or perfect, but it was filled with purpose.
So, whether today brings laughter, reflection, or a mix of both, know this: Christmas is about holding close the love we’ve shared, creating new memories, and leaning into the beauty of the moment—because those little, unexpected moments are what make life, and this season, so special.
Merry Christmas, friends. May your day be filled with joy, peace, and maybe a few stories to cherish and share for years to come. And hey—if there’s a lime green lasso involved, at least you’ll have something to laugh about next year (more like, years to come).
Merry Christmas!
~ Tracee Padilla
What a delightful memory! Children always test us but also provide us with unconditional love and support.