And They Went With Haste...
"And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger." Luke 2:16
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedinly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him." Matthew 2:10-11
The shepherds got it, the wise men got it, and my kids get it, so why don't I?
Christmas time comes and my kids can't wait to get the nativities out! It is literally one of their absolute favorite things about decorating for Christmas. The big man wants to help place each piece carefully on the mantel this year and can't quit talking about how much he loves getting this out every year. He has all sorts of ideas about how it should be arranged.
Then come the Veggie Tale ones made for play and every kid, no matter the age is down on hands and knees in wonder of those little characters even though they could play with them at any time of the year.
Then there is the box filled with tiny boxes each containing a different part of the scene and I am saving it...for what? I don't know. For that one great night when we will sit down and read the story and pull out the pieces as the book tells us to. Only the night doesn't come, and doesn't come and they beg and plead to break into that box...to see the baby. And what do I do? I tell them no again and again...wait...we'll do it later... Wait for what? Should we ever wait to get on our hands and knees and wonder at what God did? Should we ever wait to see the baby again?
They find the box, and are thrilled with the contents, and have it all set up just so. I discover this, and scold, and miss what the shepherds, and wise men, and my children all know.
We should ALWAYS go with haste to see the baby again and rejoice with GREAT JOY when we find Him and the hope that He holds.
They do it so well, every year. They hurry to find Him. They rejoice at the discovery and they linger long at the scene. I hurry...but not to find Him. I rejoice at a great find...but it isn't Him. I linger long...but on tasks that someday won't matter.
Tomorrow is a new day and it will start with the opening of a very special box...and there will be great joy...and we will linger long.
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedinly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him." Matthew 2:10-11
The shepherds got it, the wise men got it, and my kids get it, so why don't I?
Christmas time comes and my kids can't wait to get the nativities out! It is literally one of their absolute favorite things about decorating for Christmas. The big man wants to help place each piece carefully on the mantel this year and can't quit talking about how much he loves getting this out every year. He has all sorts of ideas about how it should be arranged.
Then come the Veggie Tale ones made for play and every kid, no matter the age is down on hands and knees in wonder of those little characters even though they could play with them at any time of the year.
Then there is the box filled with tiny boxes each containing a different part of the scene and I am saving it...for what? I don't know. For that one great night when we will sit down and read the story and pull out the pieces as the book tells us to. Only the night doesn't come, and doesn't come and they beg and plead to break into that box...to see the baby. And what do I do? I tell them no again and again...wait...we'll do it later... Wait for what? Should we ever wait to get on our hands and knees and wonder at what God did? Should we ever wait to see the baby again?
They find the box, and are thrilled with the contents, and have it all set up just so. I discover this, and scold, and miss what the shepherds, and wise men, and my children all know.
We should ALWAYS go with haste to see the baby again and rejoice with GREAT JOY when we find Him and the hope that He holds.
They do it so well, every year. They hurry to find Him. They rejoice at the discovery and they linger long at the scene. I hurry...but not to find Him. I rejoice at a great find...but it isn't Him. I linger long...but on tasks that someday won't matter.
Tomorrow is a new day and it will start with the opening of a very special box...and there will be great joy...and we will linger long.
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