Cake

It was Big Sam's first birthday. I call him Big because he truly is...height and weight (bordering a size 3) comes by that naturally...Dad is a 6"5 and mom is 5'9 or so. It was a backyard party with family and friends and Sam was content to be in the swing that hung on the wonderful playground activity fort that his grandparents gave his brother a couple of Christmas' ago....There was always someone there to give him a push, even Catherine his doting almost 3 year old cousin stationed herself as his helper.

It was as if there was a live video compiled just for Sam's enjoyment...kids on trampolines, babies on blankets, pirates climbing overhead and the dog keeping a close watch over the hot dog stand and busyness surrounding him. He was content to be wherever he was placed...and whose ever arms were strong enough to hold him (which was often times in his out of town grandmom "Woody's" arms). It was a true celebration and all who joined seemed to have a great time....thanks to Jamie who planned it.

But there was one moment that caught my thoughts and lingered. Towards party end, Sam was placed in his booster chair and a small individual cake was presented to him...with one solo candle on it....it was all his. Blake, his brother helped to blow out the candle....removed the candle...and it was then that Sam "had his cake and was able to eat it too!" Sam sat pleasantly entertained, eating, content digging into the icing and cake smearing the bit that didn't make it into his mouth everywhere. everywhere as the big cake followed and was cut and passed as tradition. Sam usually is a constant mover on all fours...stopping occasionally to pull up on tables and chairs but this day he was happy to be the spectator....It was his day... All was well...and this birthday was a true success thanks to Jamie who planned it.

Now Sam won't remember this event except when stories are told and pictures are shared. But many who were there will have recollections...Birthdays are strategic points on our earthly timeline. With each year comes growth and maturity and experiences that we embrace that mold our character, our desires, our interests and our passions. Baby Sam has only been around for a year...can you remember your life at that age? No?....so how far back can you go that you do remember? And what is it that you recollect...and who was it that impacted you? Can you name the pivotal moments that still are cemented into your mind that effected your walk. When do you first remember someone telling you about Christ?

Christ's first birthday is way gone....but still each year we talk about Him and celebrate his life in great awareness of who he was and the footprints that he left. We weren't there in person but those who were, told stories and the writings of those stories resonate still today with great vitality. It is because the stories are ones we relate to...and have come to believe in...they were active accounts then of God's love and faithfulness and remain active in our present day to day lives. Christ's one life on this earth was an impact then and continues to impact all of us toady who believe in him and trust in him.

Sam was able to have his cake and eat it to....sure it is an old saying but when we allow Christ in our life...we too are given the same opportunity just in a different reference. We are able to reap the rewards of peace and joy and contentment by living in a constant state of dependence on someone who knows the way, carries the light and is willing to lead us through whatever has been designated or allowed in our life. Ok the cake reference might be a little too off the wall...but think for a minute what has been presented before you?
What is on your plate? If we are mindful to accept whatever it is with the understanding that:

1) Whatever is on our plate before us has been given to us, or allowed on us by Christ...so that we will give him the opportunity to prove his faithfulness and bring us closer to himself
2) It is Christ who celebrates the creation of our lives each day, your life and mine...and he wants HIS best for us...which we often are blind to, and hesitant to accept
3) It is Christ who wants to help us grow and mature and be nourished through his grace...year by year
4) And it is Christ who loves us so much that he lived and died solely to save us from the sins that we often times refer to as just mistakes

If we are mindful to accept whatever is before us with this perspective and understanding, then we can look at things through His different lens rather then the earthly ones that we are accustomed to.

Philippians 4
11 ...... I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

I am surrounded by these little lives that God has gifted me with in my grandchildren...even now God is altering my understanding of how important it is to tell the stories of old and to teach them about the love and overseeing power of Christ that is before them. My mom used to say "Beware...Little pictures have big ears"...they might now always "get it" but they are listening to more than we know and watching how we handle our joys and our trials, our disappointments, our successes and our failures, our relationships etc....the things that are on plate before us. It is our responsibility as grandparents and parents to stand on truth and not be afraid to share recollections and reflections of how Christ has been pictured in our lives before and how he is an active component of our lives today.

Sam is only one....but this is where it starts....I wish that I would have had the devotion to and the relationship with Christ when my children were little that I do now...but somehow they got it (Christ continues to be faithful to grow the seed that was planted in their hearts). They "get it" not by our doing but by Christ's nudging...and too are sharing it with their children.

As a child of five we were taken to church regularly by our parents. Christ was not talked about too freely in our household but the seeds were planted....and my parents are responsible for making those seeds available to us through precious Christian teachers. I am forever grateful for their commitment...and patience...because I remember how tough those Sunday mornings of getting everyone dressed and out of the house for church was. But they did it an did it with consistency.

We can have our cake and eat it too...when we choose to begin to look at whatever is presented to us through the loving eyes of Christ....and accept it as something that will ultimately bring us closer to him. (Referring to a devotional a few days back)..Accepting in faithfulness the belief that "I trust you, Jesus"....applies to everything....on our plates.

Dear Lord, Teach me to live in contentment in spite of the circumstances that are before me....and bless me with the rewards of your peace and joy as I seek your will. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through! I trust you, Jesus!