We're all on the brink of a new year. Imagine.
I've made my usual resolutions--I'm a believer in making them. I mean, what's wrong with having sane, sensible goals to aim toward in a new year? After all, if you aim at nothing, you might just hit it. (And who wants that?)
Anyway, a resolution of mine which sums up all the rest is this: That I will cooperate with God more easily. You know, without whining first or procrastinating obedience for a time I believe is better or questioning just what good it'll all do anyway.
I believe there are levels of obedience and through the years God takes us into deeper levels. And well, I'd like to go deeper into allowing people to be who they are--and not voicing my opinions about their words or decisions.
All of that came to me when I saw a certain tv commercial and a bunch of bells and alarms went off inside my head. I thought, "I can't believe the people at Smuckers are serious!" (Hmm... I'm hoping it was Smuckers. I wouldn't want to go wild about them if it wasn't them. And warning--I'm about to go wild...)
Have you seen their latest ad? It's the one where two young boys are walking and one says, "Why doesn't anyone ever ask me what I'd like to do when I grow up?" And then the announcer says something like, "When your last name is Smuckers, you don't have to guess at what you'll be. You already know you'll continue what your family has always done. You'll make great Smuckers jams and jellies."
(Ok, I probably slaughtered the actual discourse, but that's the way I remember it.)
Anyway, isn't that horrible? I mean, what if the kid has a God-given ability to teach? Or to play the violin professionally? Or to build houses, be a missionary, design skyscrapers or be a funeral director? What, he must go into the Smuckers business whether he wants to, or not?
Well, I've seen that commercial twice and both times I have shuddered.
And yet I'm glad they made this commercial. Maybe it will shake-up more people than just myself and remind us all that the happiest people "out there" are those who use their God-given talents, abilities, personalities and giftings during the majority of their hours every single day.
And may it remind us all to let people do what they feel called to do, even if--to us--it doesn't appear all that wise. Or cool. Or smart. Or financially-best.
There's a lot of living which goes on inside a person's heart, in places where he and God talk things out. And heaven help any of us who believe we know a better way for someone else. After all, half the time we don't pause long enough to have our own chats with God at the table of our heart. But if we did, we'd probably see things very, very differently... and probably speak half as often...
... and feel a whole lot more free and happy.
Something rather cool happened yesterday.
See, two years ago my parents mailed us an antique mantle clock before they came for a two-week visit. The pendulum to the clock came inside a small separate box so my parents installed it for us after they arrived. But I didn't watch them closely. The whole process looked rather involved with them standing over the clock so I went in the kitchen and prepared dinner.
Well. Because of our upcoming move, it was the clock's turn to be packed into a box and I thought I'd better remove that pendulum. But then that scene with my parents peering into the clock's back returned to me and I knew that, most likely, that pendulum wouldn't exactly just slide out. It was gonna be harder than that.
I was correct. When I mentioned all this to Tom he said, "Oh, I can get it out of there. Easy." Or not. He couldn't figure-out just where the screws were, either.
But alas! He did come up with the best idea. He said, "How about if you just pour a bunch of those Styrofoam packing peanuts inside the clock to keep the pendulum from moving?" I told him, "Hey! That's a terrific idea."
So yesterday I placed the clock on a towel upon our table, turned it around, then began pouring in the packing peanuts until the pendulum could no longer swing at all.
And that's when the rather cool thing happened. Suddenly it was as though my dad was standing behind me, chuckling. And I even think I 'heard' him say, "Well, that's one way to do it." As though he found it clever.
It was so real! I even laughed because, usually my dad, while upon this Earth, believed in only one way to do things. The right way. Which was, yes, his way. And well, he could get, shall we say, a little uptight if you chose a different method.
But you know? Yesterday while feeling like my dad was standing there, I remembered that he's different now. You know, after having been in Heaven for two months. He's much more relaxed and carefree. He's no longer burdened by the cares of this world, tiny or huge, the ones which still burden us poor schmucks left behind. As God will finish-up in each of us what He's begun, God has completed the work he began in my dad and now I'm certain he loves all sorts of variety.
And there in the dining room I received a very real sense of that change. And I enjoyed it.
It's my most fav-or-ite day of the year.
What's not to love about this day after Christmas? There are leftovers--I won't have to cook. Late Christmas cards will arrive inside my mailbox. Tom and I can stay home and watch my new Family Ties Season 2 dvds or go see a movie--it's our choice. (Of course, we should pack a bit, too, since we're moving in 7 to 9 days, but hey...)
I can spend today picturing our lovely yesterday and my family's faces as they opened gifts and sat around the dinner table. And recall the phone conversation with my mom and hearing a strength in her voice this first Christmas without my dad. Plus, the sun is due to shine here and melt our snow away during a balmy 41 degrees.
And I can relax and rejoice that I survived yet one more Christmas. :)
Yes, as with every December 26th, it's my most fav-or-ite day of the year. Some people get a let-down, where-did-it-all-go? feeling, but not me! No, I always get this antsy I-can't-wait-till-Normal-returns anticipation. I love Normal. Why? My own personal Normal feels rather like low-key Christmas 11 months out of the year. The way I like Christmas to be. The way I wish December felt, but usually doesn't.
For me, God makes Normal incredible because His presence is incredible. Year after year, day after day.
And that is my wish for you, as well, on this, my most fav-or-ite day of the year. That you always see Normal as the gift it truly is.
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So what was your favorite Christmas gift this year?
You know, besides having your family together and celebrating Jesus' birth, etc. シ
Mine was the aforementioned Family Ties 2nd season dvd's. Tom and I watched tons of episodes last night and loved them all, the special feature interviews, too. There is no comparison between today's tv comedies and ones like Family Ties, Growing Pains, The Cosby Show, Perfect Strangers, etc. No comparison! So how terrific to have them on dvd.
Which reminds me, Perfect Strangers Seasons 1 and 2 is finally due out this February--hooray!
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