Unwrapping Christmas

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Yesterday I received a heavy box in the mail, and since my granddaughter Emerald was over-to-play, we opened it together. That is, we tried.

The artistBefore I could fetch a scissors to cut the tape, Emerald (who was seated cross-legged on the kitchen counter) grabbed my pen and began drawing on the sturdy white box. Since it was heavy and seemed well-padded, I decided to let her have a moment with her idea and pulled out the colored markers for her.

She ended up working on that box for 25 minutes, a noteworthy attention span for a new two-year-old. As she chattered away, she turned the box (no small feat with its heft) and every so often asked for help with that. “Mee Mee help you?” I moved her to the floor where she continued to draw, decorating all 6 sides before she was finished.

While she was asleep, it occurred to me she’d never been interested in what was inside that big, heavy box, because she got distracted by the packaging.

The artworkSome of us are tempted to do that with the Christmas season, too, allowing ourselves to get so caught up with the trappings of the holiday we never get around to unwrapping God’s gift.

Admittedly, all the Christmas accessories fancy-up the season in ways that are difficult to resist. We buy into buying, and adorn our homes with baubles and bows. We choose well-balanced Christmas trees and load them with sentiment and family history. We entertain and bake and wrap and decorate till December 25 finally comes and goes. And then we fall into a tired heap with smiles on our faces, knowing fun was had by all.

Apples and jamBut did we ever take time to unwrap The Gift?

“…for the exceeding grace of God in you… thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:14-15)

 

Praising and Praying with Mary

Please continue to pray about my painful feeding tube and for God’s wisdom about whether or not to have it removed.

Don’t forget.

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A while ago Louisa and Birgitta were in reminiscing mode, harkening back to childhood and a certain Disney video they both remembered well. Since it had to do with Christmas, they decided to hunt for it in the basement, hoping to watch it.

Disney ChristmasThey found it among the old VHS tapes: “A Walt Disney Christmas,” 6 classic cartoons from the 1930’s and 1940’s. I watched the girls as they watched the tape, enjoying their expressions and comments:

“Oh, I remember that skating couple when the ice cracked! Remember the poor children at the orphanage? And the stocking with the hole in it?”

As their favorite scenes appeared, they tried to recall how old they were when they’d memorized the details: the color of the ice, the lace on the pantaloons, the glow of a Christmas tree. All of it occurred for them more than half a lifetime ago.

Looking back at happy times is fun. It can also be instructive, and God wants us to make a practice of it. In the Old Testament he says, “Remember what the Lord did to Pharaoh and to Egypt. Remember how the Lord led you in the wilderness. Remember that the Lord redeemed you. Remember the days of old. Remember all the wonders he has done. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome. Remember the Lord’s great mercy and love.”

On and on his training-in-remembering goes as he coaxes us to look back. If he did great things for us “then,” he can do the great things “now.” His desire is for us to focus on his past capabilities rather than our circumstantial difficulties. When things aren’t going well, we tend to quickly slip into despair rather than count on him to come through, and reminding us of past victories is his way of lifting our sagging spirits.

Even better than our look back, though, is his: he never needs remembrance-prompting because he never forgets. When he makes a promise, he follows through. What he says he’ll do, he always does, without exception. God has never been into making excuses. Scripture says he “remembers his covenant, remembers us and blesses us, remembers us in our low estate” and many, many more. On and on his mindfulness goes, mindfulness of us.

If we were as mindful of him, our lives would be far less stressful and less cluttered with worry. Trusting God would be easier, and our faith in him would grow by leaps and bounds.

The Nativity.It’s enjoyable to remember a special Disney cartoon, but it’s even more meaningful to remember the real reason for all things Christmas: that Jesus was born as a human among us, because he remembered our need for a Savior.

 

“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” (Isaiah 46:9)

 

 

It’s about time.

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The older I get, the more I think about the future – the distant future. And that always includes heaven. I wonder about meeting Jesus, about the many loved ones who are there, about what life in paradise is like day-to-day. But what will day-to-day mean there?

Scripture tells us heaven will have no night, which means day-to-day will be no more. It’ll just be one long day. Does that mean time will end?

In Revelation we’re shown a picture of souls who have been martyred for their faith, and they’re asking God “how long” before justice will be done? They’re aware that that time hasn’t yet come. His answer to their question also involves time: “Wait a little longer.” *

Clocking inLater we’re told that silence will come to heaven “for about half an hour.” **      Does that hint at the presence of a clock?

We’re also told that the tree of life, from which we’ll all eat, will yield a different fruit each month. Interesting. No more day-to-day but yes on month-to-month?

Maybe time will continue but not in seconds, minutes, and hours as we now know it. Maybe it’ll fly by, or maybe lengthen. One thing for sure is that if time does exist in heaven, it’ll be a positive rather than a negative. We won’t be frustrated by not having enough of it or by having too much, causing it to drag. It will be “perfect timing” all around.

The Bible also gives us a glimpse of how God relates to time:

“Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8)

1000 years

My friend Fellows has some fascinating thoughts about time in heaven. He writes:

My Dad died 48 years ago. If one day in heaven is 1000 years on earth, then one year on earth is 1.44 seconds in heaven. My Dad has only been in heaven 69 seconds and Nate less than 6 seconds. The Apostle Paul and the 12 disciples only got there the day before yesterday.

It’s not that my Dad has forgotten me; it’s just that he has barely arrived himself. Furthermore, even if I live another 30 years, when I get there, he will say, “Fellows, I just got here myself. I didn’t expect you so soon.”

I like the way Fellows thinks. Based on a biblical mathematical formula, it makes perfect sense. It also explains why we miss our loved ones but they don’t miss us. They don’t have the chance!

Ultimately, I have to let go of my desire to understand this aspect of heaven, adding it to the long list of God’s secrets. But it’s satisfying to know that eventually he’ll explain the whole thing.

All in good time.

“I trust in you, Lord…. My times are in your hands.” (Psalm 31:14-15)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1.  I’m thankful for a quiet day and a long walk with beautiful snowflakes falling.
  2. Pray for wisdom to know what to do about my feeding tube, which is acting up again.

*Rev. 6:10-11

**Rev. 8:1