Take Time (THANKS mom and dad)

Tonight I was reminded that I have known some people for 40+ years and I still learn interesting tidbits about their life.....when I take time to listen....and ask....and talk.

Tonight my dad went with me to a funeral home for a visitation for my cousin. He didn't have to go with me...or wait the extra hour it took for me to finish up some stuff before we went.  He doesn't HAVE to do a lot of things.  But he does.  For me, my family now, my family growing up and a lot of other people.  He and my mom have done a lot of "behind the scenes" work over the years. They have taught us well to help and volunteer whenever possible - even when it is inconvenient or time consuming or not noticed by most people.

Tonight we had at least 1/2 hour each way to drive (with him riding...usually he ALWAYS drives!) and talk. We got talking about Alaska and his time in the service. I thought he had been there only months. He was there 3 years. He was there when he got a call his mom had died. He went back there afterward.  That all happened in his life before marriage and kids.

Sometimes we forget our parents had lives before us. Sometimes our kids forget we had lives before they came into the picture. 

Driving home seeing the reflectors on the side of the road reminded me of the times my mom would come over in the dark early AM to watch our son when he was little.  That time back at work went much easier knowing I had somebody I loved and trusted taking care of him if I couldn't be there.

Now that I've helped with my brother and sis-in-law's triplets (nephews and niece) I realize how much I missed. BUT now I get to take time with them and make new memories too.

I guess I just needed a reminder that I need to take time now to spend time with those I love. Honestly, is reality TV better than the people in your reality? (OK, maybe sometimes....at least you don't have to live with those people!) Everybody has a story. Take time to listen.

Ephesians 6:1 (NIV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Luke 2:45-46 (NIV) 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Do you have room?

A week before Christmas. The tree is up.  The lights are on.  A gentle snow is falling.  The presents are wrapped.  The sound of Christmas music lingers in the air.  Family traditions.  Cookie making.

Everything is right with the world.  Or is it? 

The tree was knocked over by the pets.  Some lights are out.  More snow.  Another gift to buy? The hustle and bustle of overfilled parking lots and long lines at stores.  Hark the Herald Angels....AGAIN?  Who's coming over?  Burned batches of Christmas cookies.  Stomach ache from eating too many cookies.  Who cares if they're slightly crispy?

Try and make it to church to hear the Christmas story and be reminded of why we really celebrate.

I heard a song on the radio today:  While You Were Sleeping by Casting Crowns.  Maybe I've heard it before, but today it sunk in.  The song talks about Bethlehem and the city not realizing who they did not make room for.  The city of Jerusalem not realizing the fact that they killed the Savior.  The United States of America - will we be ready when we get another chance to make room for Jesus when He returns? 

Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)   ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

It was not only the innkeeper or the town of Bethlehem that did not make room.  It was not only the city of Jerusalem that crucified their Savior.  It is not only the nation of the USA that is not making room or spreading the news of His coming again.  It is me.....and  maybe you....getting to caught up in the season and all its busy-ness that we have forgotten.....Jesus needs room.....still.

Will you be sleeping?  Will you recognize Him?  Will you make room?

John 1: 9-13 (NIV)  

 ⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Set A Spell

Luke 2:46 (NIV)⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

The phrase "set a spell" has been running through my mind lately.  Probably because of family visits lately to the hospital and rehab, etc.  I also thought it was at the end of the Beverly Hillbillies TV show too.  It was (I had to check the lyrics...and now THAT'S running through my head....it's a busy place up there!).

I think with technology and social sites spreading as fast as they are, we as a society and families are losing the fine art of setting a spell...taking time to slow down and listen to people....face to face....not Facebook or MySpace.  

When my mom was in the hospital in Utah years ago, a local church sent a lady through one of their ministries to come visit with us.  I was kind of worried about what we would find to talk about to a complete stranger.  We ended up having a very nice conversation.  

When we would visit our grandma at the nursing home, she and the others at the home were full of stories.  They appreciated having someone listen....and most of the time, we got a living history story.  

Sometimes we don't even need to fill the space with conversation, just having someone near us is enough. 

Talking, writing, a status update or a tweet can all equate to setting a spell.  However, I urge you to take the time this week to sit down (without the TV and computer or other distractions) and truly have a conversation with the people in your house, someone you work with who needs a friend, or even just taking a quiet time to listen to the small voice you only hear when you get quiet.

And just in case you would like the theme song running through your head also:  Sung at the end of the show:

Well now its time to say good-bye to Jed and all his kin.
And they would like to thank you folks fer kindly droppin in.
You're all invited back again to this locality
To have a heapin helpin of their hospitality

Hillbilly that is. Set a spell. Take your shoes off. Y'all come back now, y'hear?

Frustration due to Expectations

Christmas Eve, I heard a more detailed telling of the Biblical Christmas story. It gave me a different perspective to be reminded that Mary traveled more than likely in labor - at least part of the way. She was on a donkey and going a long distance. She didn't know what to expect when she got there. When she arrived, the town was very busy and she needed to have a place to have the baby boy she was promised.

What kind of expectations affected Mary and Joseph's relationship? Mary didn't expect to be visited by an angel. Joseph expected a virgin. Mary expected to be married awhile before having a baby. Mary didn't expect to have to have people judge her for being pregnant before she was married. Mary didn't expect to have a baby in a barn (with all THAT entails!). She had been promised a King. What kind of King is born in a barn?

Luke 2:4-7 (NIV) ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

If she had time, it would have been easy for Mary to be frustrated during this whole process. Her life as she knew it was turned upside down.

I was reminded about how many times my frustration level is extremely low. Somebody going to slow in front of me? I have to wait? I was here first, why is that person going before me? You want me to do what?

How many times are we frustrated due to our expectations of what we want to happen? Mary changed and/or rearranged her expectations. This is a good reminder for us as well.

Romans 8:18-21 ^{(NIV) 18} I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Merry Christmas! Maybe lowering our expectations of ourselves and others will help us lower our frustration and be a gift in itself!