Expectations

Our family toured a commercial greenhouse yesterday viewing their display of over 6,500 poinsettias they raise from plugs to sell over the holiday season. I had planned this tour over a month ago and in the last week had been gearing up the kids to see such an amazing display normally not open to the public. After the tour I had planned to visit the retail division with one of the largest Christmas displays in Maryland. We all were excited and the kids had gathered their wallets and money to purchase that special something at the retail center.

I pulled into the wholesale parking parking lot and while turning off the car Daniel(6) asked in a grumpy voice "where in the world are we...I thought we were going to Homestead Gardens." I preceded to tell him that we first would do the poinsettia tour of the five acre greenhouse then go the to retail center. "Oh drats, that is not what I want to do" was his reply. Now granted he missed his nap yesterday because he and dad had an afternoon of fishing and being tired was a viable excuse. He grumbled the entire tour and carried a scowl that I thought might wilt the poinsettias. It was unusual for him not to enjoy the poinsettias and see the workings of the 5 acre mechanical and glass greenhouse. At the end of the tour his only response was "good lets get out of here!" In the car all three of the kids received my lecture of appreciation and gratitude...not that it really helped!

At the retail center we watched the display of trains and ate our bagged lunch. It gave me an opportunity to talk with the other home school moms that came a long on the tour and sip on a latte. Daniels rumblings followed me around. He kept pestering my to walk around and look for something to buy. The group disbanded and me and the kids walked around. We started with the flowers and another grumble came from Daniel "This is not what I want to do." "What do you want to do!" I asked. "I want to go look at the Christmas trees and ornaments." We eventually made our way to that division and to my surprise he did not spy anything to purchase. Jonathan wanted to buy a cactus or pansy and I ignored his pleas. My reprise for the day was Hannah who just enjoyed looking. At the check out register as I finished paying Daniel snuck a little red bird ornament on the check out platform. "This is what I want to buy" he said. "Why do you have to buy something? I swear that money is burning a hole in your pocket!"I retorted. Of course this set Jonathan into a rage. "I want a bird ornament!" Jonathan screamed. Jonathan continued his screaming and threats all the way to the car. "I am going to get out of this car and go back in there"! he yelled. "Go ahead," I said " we are leaving and daddy will pick you up on his way home from work!" "Noooo! he yelled. Driving seemed to settle the raging storm.

At the end of the day I laid in bed wondering 'what happened'. Why was Daniel such a Grinch on that day. The word that came back to me time and again was 'Expectation'. He had a different expectation of the day than what was planned - what a let down for him! Some where he misunderstood that our trip would include touring the poinsettia greenhouse first and then shop the retail center. He had played in his mind what we would do...he established his expectations of the beautiful ornament he would purchase with his crisp 10 dollar bill stuffed in his deep pockets.
Expectation can sure form havoc on ones life, even if you are not a 6 year old. There has been numerous times I have held expectations of loved ones behavior, family vacations, restaurant experiences and even work related issues and been let down with the outcome. Ah, I say then why plan...no that is not the point. I just have to tell my self not to be caught up with the outcome. When you expect something it leaves little room for surprise and the workings of spirit in your life in miraculous ways. So my lesson....allow spirit to work miracles in my day even if it is not going the way I had planned :)