SPIRIT
Two years ago on Christmas Eve, Logan (age 7 at the time) gave me the card pictured above.
No wonder Jesus admonished his disciples to become like little children.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1-3).
The Christmas spirit Logan recognized in himself was the very Spirit of Christ. And as Logan so duly noted, it was that Spirit that empowered him to love wholeheartedly.
I hope you have the Christmas spirit…
There’s part of me that wonders why Logan felt compelled to hope for that for me. Was it not obvious to him that I did indeed have the Christmas spirit? Was I not being as loving as I should have been? Was I consumed by busy-ness? Was I wearied by sorrow and stress? Was I lacking joy?
Did he notice something was missing in me?
Maybe.
And I could regret, over and over again, how much of my life I spend not living up to the person (and the parent) I want to be.
Or, I could hear God’s word of forgiveness for me. I could let God’s grace wash over me. I could pray for that Spirit to rise up within me and remind me I’m beloved.
I hope you have the Christmas spirit…
For what greater gift could we possibly hope for one another?
May the Spirit of Christ rise up within you, empowering you to love wholeheartedly, freeing you to love even yourself.
Amen.