Do you remember being a child?
I don't mean a teenager or young adult. In those days, most of us thought we would never survive. We were always wondering what others thought about us or or ideas. We were always searching for where we belong. When I say we, I mean me of course.
What I mean is when you were much smaller. Many people can remember an enormous amount of their childhood. They can remember several details of when they were as young as 3. I am not one of those people. I have a hard time remembering if I glued my brain in this morning.
I get to remember things here and there through watching other kids.
I love children. I love to be around them and feel their energy even though, often, its more than my own. I love to see the trust that they shine in their eyes. I love the humility they have when they will hug you or kiss you no matter the gender with no more intention than to tell you that they love you.
To watch children means to remember the simplicity of how life used to be. Have you ever watched kids in a children's bible study? It is so cool. They answer questions so matter of fact about God's love. There is no doubt, no fear, no conditions. They just know God is there for them, that He loves them, and that He does not look down on them for their mistakes.
That sort of simplicity goes throughout them.
We were out at a diner the other day, with my girlfriend and her 3 year old son. A song came on the radio that had something to do with Christmas wishes. He stood up on the booth and told us it was about wishes. We half-hearted said that was nice and asked him what his wish was.
He raised his hands in the air and said, "this is it!!! This is what I always wanted!!!!"
He was telling us that going to lunch at a Coney Island was his biggest wish.
I try to remember the simple things and life and thank God for them. Something so simple as eating at a restaurant. Having clothes that need washing. Having a house that needs maintenance not requiring blocking the wind and rain from coming in.
We spend so much time asking God for things we want or think we need. Sometimes we even thank him for things such as health, friends, family, or other things. But, honestly, how many times do you do this absently? Do you really think about how important these things are and how lucky you are to have them?
Many of us, as adults, have to worry about the uncertainty of jobs(me included), whether we can buy that particular Christmas gift for the one we love, whether we can make it in a smaller or less appealing house.
We forget that we have been taken care of by God in that we have a job, no matter how meager, we have the one we love, no matter how far away or close they are, and we have that house, no matter how small or disheveled it may be.
Christmas can help us remember the simplicity of it all. Christ's birth is the simple truth of Christmas. All of the shopping, visiting, symbols, decorations, and carols - they all pale, even combined, to the simplicity of the idea that God sent us a savior to release us from our sins. God sent His only son for us..........
I pause here because it is the simplest of things. If only we could remember the awesomeness of this every minute of every day. If only we could remember that God takes care of us always just as any father would take care of their children. If only we could remember to be like children before God. If only we could always remember to allow God to guide us rather than to put our faith in ourselves which always seems to fail.
If only we could remember that Christ taught us God's will.....
....and He kept it simple.
