Christmas Day we usually have lunch around 1 or 1:30, but Tom and Rebecka were driving in from Austin after being with her family so we pushed it to 3:00. We knew the kids couldn't wait so we went on and fixed their plates, substituting chicken fingers for beef and all the extras, which they were quite happy with, and sat them at their Christmas decorated kids table, in the living room. Everyone was scurrying about the rest of the house and I had the distinct self appointed honor of sitting with them and sort of being the overseer to make sure drinks didn't spill, (they have special personalized shiny pewter cups for holiday occasions) and manners stayed in tact. But what I didn't count on was the conversation.
We said a prayer and then I began asking them questions about Jesus, and if they knew why were celebrating Christmas. I had no idea that they knew as much as they did and furthermore they knew not only about Jesus' birth but also his death and the reason for it. They have gathered their information, I guess from their parents, Sunday School teachers and I hope even a little bit from Gramps and I. Catherine, William and Blake are only three, four and five respectively...and Sam, who is only two, just sat there taking the whole thing in. I was not only blessed by their shared information but it was such a reminder to me that kids are such sponges for knowledge.
Children are curious creatures, wanting to know the hows and whys and details of stories they are told. The story of Jesus is no exception and it was clear that even at such an early age, they have embraced his life as part of theirs and a relationship and trust factor is already in the process of being built. Why is it that children are so ready to accept the truth of Jesus' power and overseeing authority and we so often stay perched on the fence, thinking that we are in a greater position to do things, think things out and work things out better ourselves than Christ is?
Especially at Christmastime, how often do we sit down and reflect on the real reason for celebrating a time such as this. Well, Christmas has once again come and gone, and we are presented with a brand new year? Will it be a different one than the last, will we make changes that will make us better? Will we incorporate a new attitude or stay girded with an old one? Will we trust God to get us over the hump of our obstacles and provide for the needs that he knows we have? And what about the tape that we play over and over in our heads, is it one to keep or reevaluate?
It is hard to accept the strength and hope that Christ offers, because we can't see him and touch him and see his ready hand extended our way. We bide in acceptance of the fact that we do not and cannot stand on a confidence of the end result because we are only privy to the perils, and presents of this day and this time and not on the future.
But then I go back to my little friends at the Christmas table. They do believe, through their childish faith, trust and confidence, that things are moving about just fine. They do not worry about the future for their parents are present and are leading them to
explore new horizons, teaching them values and honorable characteristic traits, and helping them overcome trials and disappointments, and teaching them through grace and forgiveness to not let their mistakes be a hindering factor to their journey forward, into the future that Christ has planned.
They might not be able to explain the concept of where exactly Jesus fits into their pictured vision of daily activities, but they do accept the fact that Jesus is overseeing them and protecting them and guiding them even if it is through their parents. Isn't that what we as Christians are called to do as well. To trust in Christ this day and the day after and in future plans? We have a heavenly parent who has got our back. Christ holds the future of all of us and all things and all circumstances in his hands.
Christ weaves our disappointments, our failures, our screw ups, our successes and our varied gifts into an ultimate good that grows us and builds us into a stronger relationship with Himself. We have to, however, allow God the invitation to explore all that is within us not just the cleaned up version of our best. He already knows what we have tried to cover up, it is us who has to make the decision to willingly recognize and uncover our dirty laundry and let it be exposed for Christ's helpful and cleansing tendering.
I am not so good at asking God to help me clean up the yuck stuff. It is embarrassing that I have let it accumulate and furthermore I sometimes get so steeped in it that I do not know where to start. But the way I figure it is: We might make mistakes but God doesn't and he has the ability to take our manifested shortcomings and blend them through his grace and power into a being a strengthened vessel for his good use and our best offering.
There are New Years's resolutions that fly about; everything from losing weight, to changing bad habits, to pursing a goal of greater purpose. But truly as I approach this New Year, my quest is to know Christ better, to love him more, and to trust him with a purposed focus.
I have been told his story of his birth and his death, but I want to live on the side of his promises. I want that trust that overrides fears, and that strength that outweighs my weaknesses, and I beseech Christ to actively be my guide in what I say and what I do and how I approach the good days and when I am embattled with the stresses of the ones that are not laid out according to my desires. I want to embrace that childish trust, that trust that comes from deep within a soul that does not have to have all the answers and know all the endings. But that confidence comes only from knowing, really knowing who Christ is. It is embracing the purity and goodness with which he stands. It is standing on the truth that His love, acceptance, provision, grace and forgiveness flows abundantly to those who know him and accept him as a faithful friend and Savior. Christ wants nothing but our best to be lifted for the goodness of his purposes.
Do you have that faith and confidence of a little child? Do I? Or have I allowed the dirty laundry to pile up so high that it is has covered the blessing of hope that Christ has promised of the future. The hope that all things will work out, not our way but His. The hope that when all else is chaotic and flustered that Christ will overrule the circumstances. The hope that His peace trumps our worries. You know what I am talking about here...we all have these battles. Oh, but God, in his heavenly wisdom and authority remains consistent and versed in his approach for the building of our faith through the adversities on this earth. If only we trusted, as a child does, in the words, ways and promises of Christ, it is then that we would understand God's peace that does transcend all understanding.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
May your New Year be a Spiritually prosperous one and may you allow God the rights to your words, your ways, and your deeds. And may his loving blessings flow down upon you and through you as you trust him and are empowered by His Holy Spirit to react, respond and readjust your ways to incorporate his ways. And I pray this very same prayer for me.
Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!
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