This past Saturday was one of my favorite days of the year, and not just because it was the SEC football championship game. It was the annual Christmas shopping day. Armed with the kids' Christmas lists and our Christmas club money, Jon and I took off for a marathon day, and tried to get as much of the shopping done as we possibly could. I love shopping for the kids, and in every store countless things caught my eye – Oh, Rachel would love this. This has Alan's name on it. This is perfect for Lauren.
When we got home that evening, I told them what a great shopping day we'd had. My youngest was especially wide-eyed as I told her I couldn't wait for her to see the presents we had bought – things not on the list, things she didn't even know existed, things that would be waiting under the Christmas tree.
Knowing that, they are even more excited about Christmas. They cannot wait until they can open presents. The anticipation is almost overwhelming.
Easy to relate to, isn't it? Now consider this…
In 1 Corinthians 2:9 Paul says, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." We believe that. At least I think we do. But somehow we've lost the joyous anticipation, that almost painful Christmas-type longing we had as kids.
What happened?
We have seen the goodness and grace of God each and every day. And yet He tells us there is more. In fact, He wants to spend the ages to come revealing the "exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:1).
Things not on the list. Things we never knew existed. All waiting for us… How many more days til we get to see them?