I spent a lovely Friday morning on foot.
When I woke up and made a little sense out of my task list for the day, I realized I could get all of my errands done right here in my own little town… and on foot. What a treat! That isn’t always possible since I live in a place where the standard mode of transport — especially during winter — is the car.
But you miss so much when you’re driving around. The tendency during this season of Advent is to be too busy, running around as fast as you can checking things of the ever-growing “to do” list. I’m not a big fan of feeling that way, but I have the great ability to create that kind of environment around me if I don’t deliberately find ways to slow things down.
Getting out of the car is a great way to slow things down!
I first walked over to the Post Office to mail a Christmas package. The line was definitely longer than usual, and a considerate gentleman offered to give a very impatient lady the two stamps she needed so she wouldn’t have to wait in the line to buy a whole pack. She protested so loudly that everyone turned her way to listen to how she couldn’t possibly take the two stamps and take advantage of his generosity.
Pride is such a spectacle, isn’t it? As detestable as it is, why is it so hard to recognize it in our own lives? We are all prone to it. Apart from Christ, it is who we are.
She finally accepted the “free” stamps, attempting many times to pay the man in return for the gift. Her gratitude was somewhat reluctant. And aren’t we sometimes that way with Christ? Reluctantly accepting His gifts and vowing to find a way to pay Him back… as if we ever could. The price of Grace has already been paid.
I left the Post Office and walked up past the town Christmas Tree to the Bank and the Library and back down through the Village Green to the local Toy Store.
I remembered that I still needed a couple of teacher gifts, so I walked in. What a fun little store! It was full of color, noise, life and whimsy. I found the two gifts I needed and made my way to the counter to pay. The ladies working in the store cheerfully wrapped my two packages.
The colorful packages beg to be opened, and my children have already tried. But not all gifts look that pretty. Sometimes gifts come wrapped in lovely or whimsical paper with shiny, curly bows. Other times they are wrapped in burial cloths, stains, and heartache. In Christ though, they are all gifts.
Difficult to comprehend, but true nonetheless.
Of His many gifts to me this year, many have been wrapped in less than desirable packaging — in mediocrity, in discipline, in struggle, in death, in pain. Yet in Christ, they are precious.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming own from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
James 1:17
Before walking home, I stopped into the neighborhood bistro for a bowl of soup and cup of coffee. I sat at a little wooden table nestled between an open window and the crackling fireplace. Between bites of soup, sips of coffee, and words on the Kindle, I lost track of time and nearly forgot to pick up my children from school.
A twinge of guilt came upon me. Who am I to have the ability to spend my time so leisurely? And then in my spirit I heard His voice saying, “Sit still for a bit. This is my gift to you, one that you should not let your pride or expectations steal away. I’ve already paid the bill, so that you are free to enjoy Me every moment of every day for all of eternity!”
