Merry Christmas, Friends! It’s a November afternoon as I am sitting down to write this letter and too warm outside for my liking! I love this time of year when we emphasize gratefulness, giving and reflecting on God’s gift to us in the form of His Son, Jesus.
As we approach this season, my heart and thoughts have been
on the idea of slowing. I think this
will be my word for 2014 and so I’ve begun thinking a lot about what it means
to slow. So far, I have realized that it is more than just a speed of living –
it is a state of mind and heart, it is a result of choices and a conscious
decision.
I’m eager to explore this idea and learn more about living
slower and would love to hear any ideas of yours on this! As I was thinking
about this letter, I was anticipating opening up to Luke 2 and looking for
evidence of slow and hoping to bring
some of that to our lives during this busy season and culture.
In some ways it is hard to compare the events of the Bible
with today’s hurry scurry world. But in reality we all know they had
distractions and challenges of their own that may have been visibly different
from our but bring similar feelings and struggles to our lives.
The first thing that comes to mind is that some may say God's timing is slow, but I know He is never late. People had been looking for His Son for decades and one very quiet night the time arrived. Even though generations came and went without seeing the Messiah, God was not slow but right on time for His eternal time table.
Secondly, I’m finding that when I think of slow it sort of
brings a quiet appeal with it. A heart that is at rest and at peace enables
oneself and others to slow down a bit. As I read about the stable and the place
where Mary and Joseph found themselves on that amazing night, it brings a slow
feeling into my soul just to consider the simplicity of the surroundings.
As the shepherds hurried off to find this new King they’d
heard of, it shows me that if I’m going to hurry – let it be in seeking my
Savior, obeying Him and being about His business and not to the detriment of
others.
And, finally – Mary and the shepherds all took time to
praise God. Especially Mary who, “treasured up all these things and pondered
them in her heart.” I guess another way of slowing is to make sure that I’m
focusing on the right things and using my time wisely for eternity.
As a family, we are grateful for
the opportunity to home educate our children and pray they, like Jesus, would
“grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man” and I am so
thankful that I get to spend my days investing in them and our home. Looking forward to exploring slow with you this year! Merry Christmas to each of you!
