Last year for Easter my family was able to celebrate Easter with my extended family up in Dallas, It was a wonderful occasion, filled with food, family, fun, singing (there is always singing when my family gets together) and of course the Easter Egg hunt.
The hunt had many, many dozens of eggs spread across my Aunt Gracie's generous backyard and the younger kids had a blast searching for them. They were filled with yummy goodies, mostly, but a treasured few were filled with a tiny slip of paper, with a dollar amount listed on them. The lucky kids who found those eggs got cash! Funny thing, though, even though we announced this to the kids before the start of the hunt; Kyler missed the message. As he found eggs he would pick it up, shake it, listen for that tell-tell sound of candy rattling inside and then place it in his basket. When he found an egg that didn't make a sound (the money eggs) he would literally toss it aside. I literally saw one split open and watch the little white paper spill out, and another cousin swoop in and snatch it up. (As well he should have!)
So Kyler, so anxious for the candied treasure that the eggs held for him, literally threw away the much more valuable eggs. He didn't know what he was missing out on - he missed the message.
Really made me think, how often do we all do just that in out lives? Throw away an important job opportunity or potential love in a spouse or a friend because there MIGHT be a better one around the next corner? One that comes in a prettier package, makes more noise, the one that we can be assured has at least something there for us?
I am not saying be greedy, please don't get me wrong, just sometimes its better to listen to the message that God has for us. That we should be willing to except the "eggs" God gives us, believe he has the best in store for us, and to lean not on our own understanding of the rules of our constant hunt for what we believe is the best.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Leap of Faith
When we are ready to walk down the stairs, I walk down about three steps and stop and turn, and standing on the top landing is Colt, who cries out, "Catch me Momma, Catch me!"
And then, he unabashedly leaps into my open arms and smiles from ear to ear as I carry him down the stairs.
Colt knows his mommy will be there for him. Every time, without fear.
Do you have the faith of a child? Is there an obstacle in front of you that is scary and challenging? Something that you need a little help to get over? Do you have the faith to say, "Catch me, God. Catch me!"?
God is always there, just waiting for us, turned to us. Waiting for us to say, "Catch me, God!" Whatever it is. Wherever we are in our lives, whoever we are, God is already there, with open arms ready for our leap of faith into his arms, to hold us and carry us over life's obstacles.
I have really come to see so very many of the different obstacles that are thrown into our daily lives over the last couple of years. These obstacles have fell on some of my closest family and friends, some obstacles are small, some are painful, some are travesties beyond imagination. The thing is, God tells us "he will never leave us of forsake us" in Hebrews 13:5. And I must say that, I have seen faith and belief in God and his grace in the worst of times and I have seen men and women of God fall into his arms and seen God's strength here on earth.
But. too often, it seems to be so hard, for some reason, as adults, to have this unfailing and endless faith in God. Having this faith at times, seems to be down-right exhausting. Seems ironic, doesn't it? That we are burdened by our faith to have God carry us?
So what I hope and pray for us all, next time life burdens us, and an obstacle is placed in front of us, to think of Colt's child-like faith, call out, "Catch me, God! Catch me!" and smile and leap with abandon and without fear that he will catch us. and he will carry us over life's obstacles.
And then, he unabashedly leaps into my open arms and smiles from ear to ear as I carry him down the stairs.
Colt knows his mommy will be there for him. Every time, without fear.
Do you have the faith of a child? Is there an obstacle in front of you that is scary and challenging? Something that you need a little help to get over? Do you have the faith to say, "Catch me, God. Catch me!"?
God is always there, just waiting for us, turned to us. Waiting for us to say, "Catch me, God!" Whatever it is. Wherever we are in our lives, whoever we are, God is already there, with open arms ready for our leap of faith into his arms, to hold us and carry us over life's obstacles.
I have really come to see so very many of the different obstacles that are thrown into our daily lives over the last couple of years. These obstacles have fell on some of my closest family and friends, some obstacles are small, some are painful, some are travesties beyond imagination. The thing is, God tells us "he will never leave us of forsake us" in Hebrews 13:5. And I must say that, I have seen faith and belief in God and his grace in the worst of times and I have seen men and women of God fall into his arms and seen God's strength here on earth.
But. too often, it seems to be so hard, for some reason, as adults, to have this unfailing and endless faith in God. Having this faith at times, seems to be down-right exhausting. Seems ironic, doesn't it? That we are burdened by our faith to have God carry us?
So what I hope and pray for us all, next time life burdens us, and an obstacle is placed in front of us, to think of Colt's child-like faith, call out, "Catch me, God! Catch me!" and smile and leap with abandon and without fear that he will catch us. and he will carry us over life's obstacles.
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