"Thank you, God that we all get to be together."

My ten-year-old's consistent prayer is more startling this morning. I understand Stephen's oft-expressed gratitude on the days we've laughed through breakfast, played a rousing game of checkers, or at least gotten along. But this morning we haven't. In fact, the time we usually spend reading a devotional is spent discussing the struggles--the grumpy attitudes, the quarreling, the hurt feelings of a day just barely old enough to have afforded such conflicts.

And yet again today my son thanks the Lord that we're all here, living out the passion of family oneness.

Frankly, I could do with a little less togetherness this morning. It's one of those times when a secluded cabin in the mountains is calling my name. I can almost smell the smoke from the logs crackling in a fireplace--see the falling snow through frosted windowpanes and feel the hush of solitude, all sound blanketed by a covering of white. It's quiet in my imaginary place--the kind of quiet that climbs inside of you and whispers peace. In this world, I'm curled up in a big chair, wrapped in an afghan, a great novel is in my hand and a steaming cup of Chai sits on the end table next to me. And no one needs anything from me.

I want to be there. Really, I do! I want to be somewhere where nobody fusses. In that place I can escape the demands of four children each wanting things their own way in their own timing for their own plans. Without so much togetherness I wouldn't have to soothe hurt feelings, discuss needs, or encourage forgiveness. I don't want to be with my family right now. I just want to be alone in that peaceful cabin--living unfettered by the expectations and needs of little people.

But Stephen's prayer echoes in my mind. I look around our small living room and I can't help but let my heart embrace each person sitting there. Even in this day, when we all got up on the wrong side of the bed, we're a family. We're here, working through our issues instead of being scattered to different grades and different schools, separate and running until bedtime.

Suddenly I want this togetherness more than the cabin get-a-way. I want to spend hours with these precious children all under one roof. I want to be together.

Together to fight. And forgive.
Together to express needs and frustrations . . .
and together to how learn to meet them in each other.
Together to be jealous, and then learn to be supportive and proud instead.
Together to argue over chores, and together to rejoice in accomplishments.
Together to grow and change and become.
Together to live a full, rich, vibrant life.

As I reflect on my morning's frustration, I realize I have exacerbated the day's issues by a couple of old problems I have: Perfectionism and idealism. Thinking that I can take a family of six different people with a multitude of differences in personality, goals, needs, and gifts, and create an environment where no ones disagrees.