12.18.08
Santa’s Line …
We headed to Indy this past weekend for a family weekend to celebrate my mother-in-law’s birthday. It’s a great tradition and one we look forward to every year! We go to the zoo – bundled up with little ones in tow as we walk down the beautifully lit paths lined with Christmas lights sparkling from the bushes and trees. Little red noses and rosy cheeks peek out through the hats and scarves. The kids think it’s cool they can see their breath when they talk! They can’t contain their excitement because they know this cold walk on a path lined with beautiful lights was leading us to Santa (which happens to be in a warm, cozy house! :) The kids didn’t seem to notice the cold but the adults were freezing – brrrr!!! The adults thought about getting warm and the kids about Santa but all focused on one destination and that was Santa’s house! There were multiple paths seamlessly interconnected as if a skilled artist used his black paint-filled brush to effortlessly glide along the canvas drawing each to its destination. Soon we approached Santa’s house and hurriedly crammed inside the door only to stand in an endless line to see Santa.
Kids were doing their best to behave because although they have always been told that Santa is watching them, this time they KNEW he really was! Despite their best efforts, something would lure them away – maybe the reindeer station where they could see a real reindeer or maybe Mrs. Claus’s cookies that they could help decorate. But, their parents were there to gather them back and keep them focused on why they were there and that was to see Santa! You could see in their faces how hard they were trying to be good!!! The younger they were, the more they would wander or be easily persuaded off path. Then their mom or dad would bring them back once again just to have their brother or sister wander off in another direction. Then finally the little tots were back in line and looking up to the older kids – great idea! Well, it WAS until the older kids wandered off path and all of the little tots followed – first one, then another and then yet another. But the parents were there again gathering them all up and getting them back in line.
The little ones, so sweet, innocent and naïve were more easily pulled off path. Not all of them wandered, some young tikes were standing in line very determined to focus on Santa – nothing would pull them away!! Or would it? Well nothing until an older kid stepped out of line making them think it was ok to do the same. Or when another kid grabbed their hand to pull them towards something that seemed better than standing in a “boring” line to a Santa they weren’t even sure was there!! After all, they couldn’t see him thru all of the towering older kids and crowds of people – so is he real?
Standing there in line Chris and I were helping keep all of the little ones from wandering. I felt blessed with an uncanny depiction of what God must see when He looks down from heaven at US. He has children of all ages – some infants just learning to walk, some adolescents fairly strong in their walk but some times pulled away and others mature focused with their eyes on Him.
We are each at different stages of our spiritual walk with God. We’ve all wandered off path at one point in our lives and actually we may have even pulled others off of their paths at times. Where are we today in our walk with God? I mean we know God is always with us even if we can’t see Him past the crowds … but are we as faithful to Him in our hearts as we say we are or when tempted do we find that we make everything but Him our number one priority and are easily pulled out of line? So I guess I am asking:
Are we the kid who easily wanders out of line?
“They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet.” Jeremiah 14:10
Or …
Are we the kid in line with his/her eyes focused on God?
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7
We never know how many little tikes might be looking our direction to see what we are going to do or how we will react in a situation (especially when we are tested) … so how do you act in line?
May God bless you!!
Love,
Sandi
