The Wide Eyed Wonder of a Child

I’m still in Austin with my two youngest grandsons and, I’ll admit, I’m holding on to their child-like ways. They still want their Super Brennan and Super Bryson stories, and Bryson still wants to sleep with me and they still pull off some of those imaginary super-hero antics.

I know these days are numbered. Before long, they’ll figure out all that magical stuff is, well, magic. Their older brother, Barrett, was here with the younger brothers at Easter while their Mom and Dad were out of town. He had the responsibility of handling their “usual” early Sunday morning Easter egg hunt before going to church. So, in all innocence, big brother asked Bryson, the youngest, where he’d like him to hide the eggs – “in the front yard or the back?” To Bryson’s utter dismay, he cried “You mean the Easter bunny isn’t real??” Suddenly, the Easter bunny reality and that wide-eyed wonder became teary-eyed disappointment.

Wednesday night, I watched the finale of “America’s Got Talent” and saw two pre-teen girls vie for 1st place. Keep in mind there were extraordinary "adult" talents, but a 12-year old girl who, once-upon-a-time, was shy and awkward, and hid behind her puppets, saw the vision of herself changed and became proficient at her talent of ventriloquism and singing -- so much so that her act won herself $1 million and a show in Las Vegas.

Never have I seen so many gifted children stepping up in their talents and abilities and becoming incredible performers, artists, actors, and musicians as I am today. In fact, last year’s winning act was a young girl who sang and played the fiddle. Those who vote for those kids, realize how extraordinary their talents are at such young ages.

There’s something about children that God wants us to see. We who have lived a few decades know what it is like to have made mistakes and now we tend to be over cautious and leave little room for spontaneity. That’s not the case with children. The future is wide open for them, and they seem to know it. Wide-eyed with wonder, filled with potential, they are ready to try new things and see the possibilities all around them.

Unhindered by the past, they are free to chase after whatever the future holds. That’s the childlike spirit that God wants to give all of us. God doesn’t want any of us to think that we are too old, too wounded, too limited, too whatever. None of us are so bound by our past that God can’t open new doors for us in the future. Our Father has great plans for us. He has a future full of hope laid out for us. Now it’s up to us to run into that future with all the confidence of a little child!

Matthew 18:2-4 “Jesus called a little child to him. He stood the child before the followers. Then he said, “I tell you the truth. You must change and become like little children. If you don’t do this, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child.”

Magic is Still in the Air

It's a "Silent Night", here in Washington, as the children are nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums (or at least the last piece of Jesus' birthday cake they ate tonight) is dancing in their heads.

But before now, it was a full, busy day!  Baseball practice, buying some things with  "Christmas cash", seeing the movie "Night at the Museum 2" (cute movie), exchanging one Hot Wheel set for this one -- yes, it was a work-out for Nana to get it put together but I conquered.  And then the boys had to test drive each of their many hot wheels in the turbo-fast electric shoot.  They give me so much entertainment!

And while we were out and about today, we noticed that the Christmas cleanup has already begun -- well, with the exception of Santa's sleigh here at the mall -- seems he left it behind unitl next year.  ;-)  Yes, the lights, decorations and trees will all come down in the next few days.  Presents of miss-sized clothing will be exchanged. Christmas candy, decorations, toys and other items are on sale for at least half-price. Life will be normal again very soon.

"Normal" often means that the magic of the season will begin to fade. But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. I sense it. Maybe that’s why I’m still awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more.  I love the peace and quiet as I am sitting by this beautiful Christmas tree here -- no longer with presents surrounding it -- only twinkling lights that still represent the LIGHT of this season.  I pray that those who beheld that LIGHT last week will still be looking to Him next July. And I can’t help but think: if we could give Him so much thought and homage during December, how much more would we live in the spirit of Christmas, if we thought of Him every day?

It's true.....WISE men and WOMEN still seek Him.
#WiseMenStillSeekHim #ChristmasEveryDay

How BIG is Easter?

Tomorrow is Easter! And, of course, the reason Easter is the most important day on the Christian calendar is because of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, from the dead. It is the most important event in the history of this world and the entire universe. True HOPE was established by the resurrection and it wasn't just some hocus-pocus magic trick or exercise in wishful thinking. If it were, then the whole thing would have fizzled out, but here we are 2,000+ years later celebrating that incredible day of all days. The resurrection of Christ is so big that it's the answer to everything that was, and is and is to come. I can vouch for it -- it is MY EVERYTHING. I'm already getting giddy about tomorrow morning -- for it's not just about another sunrise, but it's about the rising of the LIGHT of all LIGHTS, and that LIGHT brings with Him, mercies and hope and love EVERY morning -- not just Easter morning! So how BIG is Easter? Oh, it's only the answer to EVERYTHING!