It's Christmas morning and the house is asleep, except for my early bird husband who is at his desk reading his Bible and listening to Christmas music. It is about his favorite thing in the world to do, listening to Christmas music. That is one of the many things I love about him. We will open presents soon with our children...a custom that is both expensive and wonderful. We love giving them gifts. I know so many in the world do not have this ability to express their love for each other through giving of gifts. This morning I'm humbled and thankful, but even more than that I am pondering. I want to give my children more than material goods. I wish I could wrap up purpose and hope and joy and give them to each one. I wish I could give them...life.
Life isn't mine to give, though in a sense that's exactly what happened. There were no Haliday children, and now there are three and I had a lot to do with that! But my Bible teaches me that God Himself had even more to do with that. He wanted Matthew and Ryan and Bethany to be, so He wove together a love story for Lance and Debbie. That is amazing! And He did the same with my parents, and yours. Among the many things we take for granted this Christmas and every day, it seems to me the greatest might just be our very existence. This Christmas morning I am focused on the amazing gift God has given to us. It is the gift of life.
How is it that we have come to live on this planet? How do we think and feel and love and work and rest? Life can so often be HARD and frustrating and tiring...and yet if we stop and really think about it for longer than five minutes, it is also amazing and awe inspiring. "...I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance," Jesus said. The baby in the manger grew up, just like my babies have grown up. Jesus the man had a lot to say in the few years that He lived. He had a lot to say about life, and not just any life, but abundant life. He used words like love and serve and forgive and peace and give and follow and least and Father. He talked a lot about His Father and spent a lot of time with Him alone, listening.
In the quiet of this Christmas morning with the Father, I am finding unexpected life as I listen to His Word. It is a surprise wrapped up for me and He is encouraging me to open the gift with childlike wonder. The fields are white for harvest, there are few workers, He is saying. Mary took Him at His word and surrendered her life gladly. He wants me to trust Him. Abundant life is living expectantly in the wonder of His unfolding plan. It is responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and obeying and doing the hard and wonderful things He asks of us. It is giving to others and loving when we are not loved in return. It is serving without expectation of reward. It is gladly giving honor to others and secretly sacrificing. It is writing the letter or dropping off the gift or cleaning the house or helping the stranger. It is extra mile living and there is joy in that place.
This morning I am thankful for the gift of life. I am wondering more and more about that other life gift He says He has also given...eternal life. I think I'm in it now. Eternal includes today. Abundant eternal life, how can it be? God help us to truly grasp this that we might share it more with those You bring across our path in this new year. May 2010 be the most abundant adventure of life yet!
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