“Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” Mark 13:33
Well it’s official. We are now, ‘on watch!’ My daughter is the one who put us there, so I guess this is pretty serious stuff. With no turning back now!! Pregnant and due at the end of this month, she called to ask if we would keep our phones handy and be prepared to move immediately. When the call comes, Katie and I will watch our 2 grandsons during the delivery. But to clarify… we are on WATCH… NOT ‘On Duty!’
With 4 of our own children, this will be the 14th time to be actively engaged in the miracle birth of family! We are SOOOO excited! This will be interesting and slightly different because my daughter Calah will be delivering a baby girl. They even named her…’Cypress.’ So with all things moving toward HER ’special delivery,’ we ARE alert and watchful. Because we WANT to be!
There is a difference, you know! A difference between being ‘on watch’ and being ‘on duty!’ Being ‘on watch’ is hopeful, expectant, ready and eager. It presumes preparation and activity based upon love and desire. ‘Duty,’ on the other hand, even SOUNDS forced. It is something you do because you HAVE to. Failure to ‘do one’s duty’ implies unwelcome penalties, which only adds fear to the motivation behind it.
The description of ‘Love,’ as outlined in 1 Corinthians 13, ends with a bold statement of fact…‘Love never fails!’ Of all the emotions that cause us to action or reaction, love is the one that is supreme. And like my baby granddaughter growing in the womb of my daughter, love only GROWS with time and care. Which makes me BOLDLY proclaim that I am MADLY in LOVE with the AUTHOR of LOVE! And I know WHY!
I find it interesting that Jesus didn’t tell His listeners HOW to watch. Just that they are required to! Some may watch out of fear or duty…but their motivation has the potential to fail as time drags on or resources run low. Not so with a ‘love’ watcher. Anticipation is it’s own fuel and end. Watching in love is reliable and expectant. And no cost is too high.
As the birth pains of the world grow more violent, vicious and loud, anticipation of SOMETHING is in the air. For most folks, fear is the accompanying emotion. But for folks like me, who are invested in love toward the expected arrival of our Savior, we don’t NEED to be TOLD to keep watch! It just comes naturally! AND with a smile.
What are YOU looking for?
