I walked into the living room just in time to see him holding up his concealed felt board and shouting, "Chriiiiiistmas present!!! WOOO HOO!!!"
I shrieked and immediately tried to apprehend the child and the gift. He started running, I started laughing, and then momma WON. He was bummed when I told him he had to WAIT until Christmas.
Probably feels like an eternity to him.
HE KNOWS. He knows that we are getting ready, shopping for presents, wrapping them up, placing them around the tree, decorating the house, baking cookies for friends, lighting Advent candles, etc... He knows that we are preparing.
Something is going on. Someone is coming.
And he's learning along the way that good things come to those who wait...
"Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31
And he's learning patience...
"You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." - James 5:8
And in a round-a-bout way he is learning chastity...
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." - James 1:17
AREN'T WE ALL?!
The Church, in her infinite wisdom, has two special times of the year set aside to help us purify ourselves through fasting and prayer: ADVENT & LENT. These are times for us to practice mastery over our minds and bodies to remind ourselves that EVERYTHING we are belongs to GOD - Who has good things prepared for us!
When Nathan and I started dating, he was the MASTER of planning and executing wonderful surprises!
He often would quote to me...
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings." - Proverbs 25:2
He believes that there is something deep within us that SO DESPERATELY DESIRES to reveal mysteries, uncover treasure, relish in a surprise... and I think he is right!
After a season of waiting and hoping, there is GREAT FULFILLMENT in receiving the gifts!
Our donkey is loaded with bells right now reminding our kids every evening at prayer time that Jesus is getting closer! We added this story about Donkey Daniel to our reading each night as a family.
VERY GOOD! Perfect for this age. Check it out here.
We're one day closer to throwing a PARTY for Baby Jesus! A birthday party!
Zay has requested balloons and hats. I'm making some yummy gluten/dairy/sugar free brownies (hardly a brownie, right?! haha... oh allergies.) and we're going to sing...
Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, Baby Jesus! Happy birthday to you!
.... and blow out some candles of course!
And THEN, after all the WAITING - all the PATIENCE - all that indirect chastity training...
Zay is going to open that package under the living room couch.
And I hope he shouts: "Chriiiiiiistmas present! WOOO HOO!"
Because THAT is the GOOD that God intends.
Brittany! Again, your blog is wonderful. You should write a book and sell it. I'd buy it.
ReplyDeletei'll work on that, Caty! definitely has been spinning in my head for many years now!
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