“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!”
1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV
For some reason, every year when I’m packing away Christmas, I seem to play hide and seek with Baby Jesus, or one of his friends, they hide, I seek. It is interesting that it didn’t start until the little ones graced our lives. One year the sheep were scattered all over the house. In a little tikes car, in the cushion of my prayer chair, amongst the opened presents, and even underneath the pack and play, the result of two-year-old Miles, playing hide and seek with Dede.
The Christmases that followed found Jesus on a windowsill, in a puppy bed, and even in the dryer. It became a game shared among the cousins. This year I found the camels scattered in the tinsel and lights. So it was not surprising when I began to pack up the nativities and my very first baby Jesus was missing. I’m not so sure they hid him this year. To be honest, I was more concentrated on just getting the house decorated than doing an inventory of all the participants in Jesus’ story. You know, praying for the lights on the tree to work, hanging the ornaments, and stockings on the mantle, while dancing to my favorite Christmas carols. as they caressed me with the memories to be made of the revival of the Moses’ Christmases of old, before Covid. So I’m not so sure they hid this special one this year. It could have been me and my racing mind on presents to be bought and parties to be hosted and perhaps not so much on Jesus. Surely not, but it was entirely possible if not probable.
So, there I was, on January 2, with memories of Christmas while I was seeking my Jesus, the one that had been part of my family for 69 years. My parents bought this nativity the year I was born. The stable is cardboard, and the pieces are plastic with peeling paint, and there’s no way they would meet today’s safety standards, but it is my first memory of the treasure of my very own baby Jesus. As the days progressed my eyes and heart were looking for my savior, until one day, there he was. Perched on my Bible that was still open to the Christmas story. Oh my goodness, my precious friend had been home all along, right where he belonged. Gotta love that guy, he’s been showing me the way for a long time and just keeps plugging along with this lady who truly loves him. What a way to start the year. Jesus is always in my heart, but now he’s in my pocket. I’m keeping him closer to me this year than I do my cell phone. As I walk the days of 2022, I can “Seek the Lord and his strength; and seek his presence continually just by sticking my hand in my pocket!” You might want to watch out, who knows when I might wander your way and share him with you.
My last box is closed, labeled, and back in its cozy attic home for a year respite, except for my friend. Make him yours this year. After all, our lives are what we make them, and joy comes in sharing Jesus with others.
Thoughts to Ponder
- Is there a time when you feel apart from Jesus?
- Try to describe that feeling.
- What’s your new year plan to stay close to Him?