We are over in Pensacola for a couple of days. The parents of one of our daughter-in-laws invited us to come to help celebrate Christmas with them and their family. They may have felt sorry for us since we had no family coming to our place to celebrate the holidays, but it was good of them nevertheless, because we got to be with 3 of our grand children during this special time.
One problem with being over here is that they are on Central Standard Time and my internal clock is messed up. I was wide awake this morning while it was still dark and got up to find out that it was only 5:30 their time. Of course that works out for me, as it gives me time to study, pray and think before the house gets all noisy, but I may pay for it later today.
As I thought back over yesterday and what we had done, I found myself coming back to one scene that seemed to jump out at me, causing me to wonder why I remembered that one so vividly.
One of our grand daughters is what I call a "hugger". She is unashamed to show affection for almost everyone around her. I don't know how many times over the few hours we have been here that I have seen her hugging someone, and I have been the recipient of more than one of these displays. At one point she came over to me while the adults were playing a card game, climbed up into my lap and just hugged for about 5 minutes. I confess that I enjoyed that brief time a lot.
What is it about affirmations that make me feel good? I want the grand children to love their Papa, I want to play good golf, so that I can get the praise of my partners, I want to do a good job at something at home or church, and I even want God to affirm me for getting up at 5:30. In short, I am a good guy, Right?
Chambers uses the verse in Galatians 6 today: " God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . .." (Galatians 6:14)
All the things that I mention about being affirmed have to do with me. I am, I am, I did, but that is not the role God wants me to play. But it is so hard to get myself out of the way, it feels so good.
Christmas is not about me, it is about Him. It is about birth, yes, but it is also about suffering, death and rejection. Can I be identified with all of that? Between the bookends of birth and resurrection lies a life that I need to embrace.
I want Caroline's hugs for sure, they are great, but I want God's affirmation, too.
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