“On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11
“Oh WOW!!!” was all I could say. Having just woken up from my ritual ‘after Church nap,’ I walked into the dining room where Katie was standing beside ‘The Teacher Tree.’ We had, the day before, just pulled together all 19 boxes of Christmas decorations, PLUS accessories! While I napped, she took the opportunity to start decorating. Upon seeing it, it is now official… Christmastime is HERE!
That instant sight made me feel like a kid again. Every year we’d come home from Church on Christmas Eve, and get put to bed with our bedroom doors shut. I was told to, “stay in bed NO MATTER WHAT you hear, because Santa Claus is coming to decorate our house and to leave presents!” ‘Taking a peek’ might cause Claus pause… and leave nothing! Waking up had a ritual.
Always the first one up, I would crawl on the floor, with eyes closed, so as NOT to be able to see anything. Waking up my parents, dad would go make the coffee and check to see if Santa had come. After coffee was made, dad would take us out into the living room. Holding hands with my eyes closed, I’d wait until he said, ”OK.!” The whole house was decorated… a wonder to behold.
Before my nap, everything was normal. Waking up was anything but! Upon seeing that 1 tree, ‘wonder’ paid a visit. But she was just getting started! All day long she decorated each room, and she’s not done yet! We have an unwritten understanding. My job is to ‘prepare’ by getting the boxes. Hers is to actually DO the decorating! God and I have a similar arrangement with my life!
The wise men didn’t ‘drag’ their treasures. They carefully packed them to keep them safe. They didn’t ’throw’ their precious gifts or ‘over-night mail’ them to the ‘Promised One.’ They planned, packed and prepared well in advance for the day of their meeting. Then ‘bowing’ down, says the KJV, they presented Him with their gifts. I guess that’s how and why we decorate OUR house too.
Christmas is not a day, but a celebration. God is decorating me as a gift to His Son. My job is to ‘let Him’ by taking time to pause, read His Word, reflect and prepare for His arrival. Because the Word says, He WILL come again, and at ANY time! I’m vowing to be ready so it will be a JOY-FULL experience. Are YOU prepared and ready? Cuz I think I hear the sound of approaching hoof-beats!
