Ten days before Christmas, on a chilly day, Wilkes and I bundled up and went for a walk in the neighborhood. Three months shy of turning two, Wilkes loves to be outside. Sometimes we’ll walk nearly a mile enjoying leaves, trees, rocks, squirrels, airplanes in the sky, and many other things we grown-ups take for granted.
For some reason on this particular day, I started singing a Christmas carol I really didn’t know that well… “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman.” Wilkes stopped walking, turned around and listened to my rendition, smiling the entire time. I’m sure I had the tune, but I confess I was making up many of the words. Wilkes did not seem to mind. When I finished, the little boy’s grin grew and he clapped his hands with enthusiasm.
Almost a week later, on a much warmer day, Wilkes and I went for another walk. This time he wanted to take a baby stroller he loves to push. When he gets a little tired, he’ll hop in, but usually he just enjoys pushing the stroller as we hike. I remembered my song from the previous week, and since we had sung it in church Sunday, I knew the words a little better. This time Wilkes never broke stride; he just kept pushing the stroller. But when I finished, he stopped, turned around with a big smile on his face, and gave me another standing ovation.
These 2016 Christmas memories bring a couple of thoughts to mind. First, I can’t help wonder if Joseph ever went on walks with a two-year-old Jesus. I’ll bet he did. And if Joseph ever burst into song on one of those strolls, I wonder if Jesus looked up, smiled, and clapped as the song concluded. Could the Child who had heard angels singing in heaven applaud an old carpenter on a Nazareth road?
I also think of Jesus’ words declaring that we must become like children: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become as little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” How often do I stop, look up, listen and observe, then applaud our Father in Heaven? He made the leaves and the trees and rocks and squirrels and people who make the airplanes. All the blessings I have been given deserve gratitude.
The most genuine worship may take place as we stop and let the Holy Spirit remind us of the truth of God’s love. When such revelation sinks to the proper deep place in our hearts, we can’t help but smile and applaud.
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24