Laced With Grace

 It was the happy sounds of laughter that drew me to my window.  So there I stood watching them playing in their backyard.  There were no expensive toys strewn about or even a bat and ball.  They were simply running around the yard playing tag, two brothers one older, one younger and a sister in the middle.

They played with total joy and delight, talking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. I watched them for a while, their laughter making me smile. As I watched the littlest one tumbled down, however before his first tear fell his older siblings were there brushing off his little legs and offering comfort ensuring that no tears spoiled their fun.

I wonder when it all changes?  When does the simplicity and joy of childhood begin to lose its luster? The three children that I watched at play today didn’t seem to have a care in the world.  They were not worried about where their next meal were coming from, whether or not they would be able to pay the electricity bill or if the job losses seen on television would affect their home. 

They had no need to worry, it was not their concern.  They were secured in the fact that parents would see to their needs. 

As I watched the children today I was reminded of the scripture where the disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus then called a little child to him and replied

^3… “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. ⁴ So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:3-4

What characteristics is it that children have that we adults should try to emulate? Well I’ve learned over the years some of the main characteristic most children seem to process, they forgive easily, they have unwavering faith and trust in the adults in their lives, and they have a seemingly endless supply of joy…

I want to be more like the children Jesus described.  I want to be humble enough to forgive,  ask for forgiveness and most of all not hold a grudge.

I want to have faith enough to believe (to put it in the words of a Fred Hammond song I love) that God will do what he says he will do he will stand by his word he will come through…

I want to have the joy of the Lord deep within no matter what my circumstances in life are.

I want to live my life in a way that pleases my heavenly father humbly, faithfully, joyously trusting and living for Him.

Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
oh come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem…

I love Christmas carols especially the old hymns that we sang in church when I was growing up.  Somehow, when the musicians started playing and the choir began singing you “felt” Christmas.  The words of the songs brought to life the true meaning of the Christmas season.  They lifted your spirits and took you on a journey… a journey to Bethlehem.

Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;

Somehow in these moments when you lose yourself in the words of the songs and allow them to minister to your heart nothing else matters.  It doesn’t matter if the house isn’t perfectly cleaned, the Christmas tree doesn’t have very many gifts or the table isn’t as lavishly spread as in years gone by. What matters is the one whom the season is all about. 

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:

Old Christmas carols such as Oh Come all Ye Faithful, Hark the Herald Angel Sing, Joy to the World and others like the remind me that the Christmas season, is not about me! It’s all about Him, Jesus Christ, the one who left the comfort of heaven to come to earth just because we needed a savior.

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

Thank you Heavenly Father, for the gift of your precious son, the gift that keeps on giving, the gift that I keep falling in love with over and over again.

 Have you ever found yourself putting off doing something you really want to do because the conditions are not quite perfect?  You have your to do list that you pull out and peruse ever so often but not much seem to get crossed off because it never seem to be exactly the right time to do it.

I’ve been thinking about that as November draws to a close.  There were a number of things I knew I wanted to accomplish coming into this year, however very few of them have been crossed off my list.

It’s not that I have a fantastical list that is impossible to achieve.  Most of the things on the list simply require me making the effort to get it done.  However, in my mind I have a list of things that should be in place before I even make an attempt.  Simply put, I’m waiting for certain perfect conditions. 

 ⁴ Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
      If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT)

 The above passage in Ecclesiastes stood out to me recently.  It opened my eyes to the fact that conditions may never be perfect and if I wait for it to be I will never do anything.  I’m thankful however that although the year is drawing to a close there is still some time left.  I still achieve of few of those goals if I’d simply stop putting them off because conditions are not the way I think they should be and make an attempt anyway.