Now that no more is hung by the chimney with care – and the words “hark” and “good tidings” will wait another year before rejoining our vocabulary, I’m wondering what’s new… what’s different… I mean if I truly believed that Christmas was the birth of the savior of the world, I think there’d be something in the magnitude of that remembrance that would change me…
Perhaps it’d be a new skip in my step during Monday’s workday.
Perhaps I’d hug my kids a little more tenderly this weekend.
Perhaps I’d be more intentional in teaching my kids life’s greater lessons.
Perhaps I’d work a little harder on forgiving that one from whom I have long withheld forgiveness.
Perhaps I’d realize that mercy always triumphs over judgment. Always.
Perhaps I’d realize during “bowlmania season” that a game is still only a game.
Perhaps I would refrain from worshipping anything other than Him (…that includes the idolization of any Grand Ole’ Party, a golden calf, a sports team, and/or a Presidential candidate…)
Perhaps I would gain the humble confidence to tackle that destructive habit that has plagued me for years.
Perhaps I would surrender more challenges, recognizing that most things are out of my control.
And perhaps I would recognize that having things out of my control can be a very good thing.
A few short years ago, I prayed for a healthy child… or at least one that I considered healthy. You know the prayer… “and Lord, I don’t really care if it’s a boy or a girl… tall or short… I don’t really want him to be too fat, of course… But all I ask is that the baby is healthy, has no defects or disabilities… I can handle everything else from there.”
Well, God didn’t answer my prayer the way I asked. My child was not healthy by contemporary medical standards. He “failed” his genetic test. My guess is he will “fail” a few more future, cultural tests. But he is a kid who doesn’t allow all the crud of life to get in the way. Where you and I have trouble loving all those around us – because we allow appearance or arrogance or even passionate political standing to get in the way – to get in the way of doing what’s good and true and right – young master Josh simply loves people where they’re at. He recognizes the value of others, and he desires to encourage, to day-brighten, and yes, to warmly converse. What I’ve realized since is that Josh knows what it means to love – to love unconditionally – significantly better than me.
Thank God most things are out of my control. Thank God He didn’t answer that prayer the way it was prayed. Thank God, as songwriter Bruce Carroll wrote years ago, that “sometimes miracles hide.” And one more thank you… thank God we can still be changed.
Merry Christmas... always and still…
AR
Perhaps it’d be a new skip in my step during Monday’s workday.
Perhaps I’d hug my kids a little more tenderly this weekend.
Perhaps I’d be more intentional in teaching my kids life’s greater lessons.
Perhaps I’d work a little harder on forgiving that one from whom I have long withheld forgiveness.
Perhaps I’d realize that mercy always triumphs over judgment. Always.
Perhaps I’d realize during “bowlmania season” that a game is still only a game.
Perhaps I would refrain from worshipping anything other than Him (…that includes the idolization of any Grand Ole’ Party, a golden calf, a sports team, and/or a Presidential candidate…)
Perhaps I would gain the humble confidence to tackle that destructive habit that has plagued me for years.
Perhaps I would surrender more challenges, recognizing that most things are out of my control.
And perhaps I would recognize that having things out of my control can be a very good thing.
A few short years ago, I prayed for a healthy child… or at least one that I considered healthy. You know the prayer… “and Lord, I don’t really care if it’s a boy or a girl… tall or short… I don’t really want him to be too fat, of course… But all I ask is that the baby is healthy, has no defects or disabilities… I can handle everything else from there.”
Well, God didn’t answer my prayer the way I asked. My child was not healthy by contemporary medical standards. He “failed” his genetic test. My guess is he will “fail” a few more future, cultural tests. But he is a kid who doesn’t allow all the crud of life to get in the way. Where you and I have trouble loving all those around us – because we allow appearance or arrogance or even passionate political standing to get in the way – to get in the way of doing what’s good and true and right – young master Josh simply loves people where they’re at. He recognizes the value of others, and he desires to encourage, to day-brighten, and yes, to warmly converse. What I’ve realized since is that Josh knows what it means to love – to love unconditionally – significantly better than me.
Thank God most things are out of my control. Thank God He didn’t answer that prayer the way it was prayed. Thank God, as songwriter Bruce Carroll wrote years ago, that “sometimes miracles hide.” And one more thank you… thank God we can still be changed.
Merry Christmas... always and still…
AR
Posts
1 comment:
This one is beautiful!
Post a Comment