A little ritual has begun in our family where before leaving after a visit, Olivia (our three year old granddaughter) says 'goodbye' with "a hug and a kiss and a high-five". This has become her way of expressing her affection and sending us off with her very best. We never leave without overflowing with the joy that little ritual brings to our hearts.
Recently Olivia came to our house for a short visit again and as before (see blog Dec 10), the nativity set in the next door neighbor's yard captured her attention. When she got out of the car the first thing she said was, "I want to give God a hug and a kiss and a high-five". Grammy walked her next door where she went to each figure with a 'hug and a kiss and a high-five'. What had been a way of saying 'goodbye' to people special in her life had become her special way of greeting someone that had become very important to her.
Here's an idea: it's Christmas eve. Why not recognize the image of God in someone this Christmas, offer them 'a hug and a kiss and a high-five' and tell them how much they mean to you? What a memorable gift that could be!
The Parson's Bench
Monday, December 24, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Seeing God in Christmas
Our next door neighbor erected a large lighted nativity scene in his front yard for Christmas this year. We have a much smaller version somewhat less eye-catching. Recently our three year old granddaughter came for a visit. She had spotted the large figures in the neighbor's yard as mommy pulled into our driveway and as soon as she was free from the harness of her car seat she said, "I want to go see God!" She immediately headed for the yard next door with Grammy to "see God" in the large nativity scene.
Christmas has much to teach us if we will simply listen to the children. The little ones often see things that we have missed; significant things that for us have become obscured by adult preoccupations and busyness. Olivia reminds us all that when we look in the manger, we in fact DO see God. Emmanuel, God with us. That's the message of the season for seekers of all ages!
Christmas has much to teach us if we will simply listen to the children. The little ones often see things that we have missed; significant things that for us have become obscured by adult preoccupations and busyness. Olivia reminds us all that when we look in the manger, we in fact DO see God. Emmanuel, God with us. That's the message of the season for seekers of all ages!
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