We’re Going to Disneyland!

I grew up less than 10 miles from Disneyland (exactly 6.2 miles according to Google maps) so all things Disney have always been part of my life – fireworks, parades, e-ticket rides… but I’ve never been a really “Disney person” if you know what I mean.  I don’t decorate my house or car with Mickey Mouse paraphernalia.  I don’t have Tinker Bell sheets, Beauty and the Beast dinnerware, or a Goofy pillow pet.  I don’t have a Lion King beach towel or Minnie Mouse bathing suit. (I know you are all disappointed by that one!)  And you won’t find any Disney Park Authentic Grapefruit Bergamont shampoo or condition in my shower.  (Don’t worry, I looked that one up – call it research…)  All in all, I’m just a typical native Californian, born and raised enjoying Walt’s imagination but keeping it in perspective and enjoying it on the entertainment level rather than embracing it as a lifestyle.

Soon after I told the kids that we were moving to Southern California, however, the “Can we going Disneyland?” questions began.  Not surprising, of course, I do have five children aged ten and under.   Unfortunately, the answer has always been a “Not today” or “Not unless they pass tickets out for free” or “Maybe someday.”  And although my kids accept all these things and realize that going to Disneyland would be a major undertaking, they also remember the final family vacation we took before everything changed which just happened to be to Walt Disney World.  And good memories breed the desire for more good memories.  So disappointment at Mickey’s slightly out-of-reach existence is completely understandable because after all they are children.

But the other day the absolutely incredible happened.  All of those “It’s not our time right now” answers changed into an amazing and fantastic and completely unexpected “Yes!” when from out of nowhere our family was given an entirely funded trip to Disneyland – extra adult ticket for ride coverage and food included!!

It’s actually been about two weeks since we received this magnificent surprise and I haven’t said anything until now because, honestly, the whole thing has left me somewhat speechless and dumbfounded.  (I know, it’s hard to imagine me speechless– but look at just how short this blog entry really is….)  I honestly have no clue who bestowed upon my children this gift of their lifetime, and I don’t even know where to begin to say “Thank you”.  I wrote a thank you note, finally, after I somehow managed to string together a few gracious sounding words that hopefully made a little bit of sense, but there really are no words to describe.

I LOVE my kids.  And, of course, I think they are the greatest kids in the world.  And I LOVE to surprise them with fun things, and dream of them having the carefree childhood I was blessed to grow up with, but reality just isn’t what I always dreamed it would be.  Money is tight.  Single-parent monitoring of five small individuals is limiting.  There are a lot of fun things we do, but a whole slew of things we don’t even attempt because they are either outside our financial possibility or I simply don’t want to be arrested for disturbing the peace when my children outnumber all of the other humans present in a public area.

This gift is AMAZING...
                        INCREDIBLE... 
                                  MAGNIFICENT...  
                                               BEYOND DESCRIPTION!!! 

The day I received the gift bag of Disneyland tickets and gift cards I didn’t even tell my kids I had it.  I didn’t know what to say.  I didn’t know how to describe the miracle concealed in the package.  The next night at dinner I finally made my announcement and the responses were astounding to say the least.  They didn’t get it.  It didn’t register with them any better than it did with me.  Slowly, one by one, each child began to understand what I had just told them and the excitement became cautiously contagious.  And the gratitude unequivocal.

My kids could not understand why someone would do such a thing, but they also knew that this wasn’t the first miracle we’ve been granted.  And what a wonderful way for them to see how fantastic it feels to be on the receiving end of generosity.  No, we’ve never come anywhere close to being benefactors of this magnitude, but what a great example to them of how it does feel when we deliver a meal, or run an errand, or simply send a cup of coffee to a friend because we care and because we can.

So, that is it.  We’re going to Disneyland!  I don’t know when.  And I don’t have a plan for how to survive the day yet, but one day soon my little brood of ducklings will be traipsing down Main Street U.S.A. on their way to Adventureland or Tomorrowland or maybe even Toontown.  And you can bet your lucky stars we will be singing God’s praises on the way because way before Walt Disney ever dreamed of the Magic Kingdom our God knew that someday my household would be given the opportunity to enjoy it through the generosity of someone loving us just because they could.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  This is the first and greatest commandment.  Matthew 22:37-38

     In order to receive anything, we must stay connected to God.  We have to pray, listen, avoid sin, repent of the sin we don’t avoid, and continue to seek Him with all our hearts.  As we stay connected, we grant Him access to our hearts and allow Him to freely work His wonders on all our clogs and problem areas.  The joy of a softened heart, a heart that readily receives, is a heart that is now able to give with the same abandon.  We can give in such a way that we don’t have to be concerned with running out, because we know our Source is unlimited.  Suddenly, wonderfully, it’s not about us anymore.  As we receive, we heal, our motives align with God’s, and we are ready.
     We will have become transparently, porously, fabulously generous, through and through.

                                      – Kristen Armstrong, Work in Progress