Seen

Raising three boys I've learned to tune out a lot of noise and adapt my ears to selectively hearing only the most important things, like "Blood!" "Fire!" and the scariest of all when raising boys...silence. And after decades of reading the Bible it takes an extra effort to not gloss over the familiar lines of the Christmas story and catch all the important meaning. 

Recently as I read, "The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.' "( Luke 1:28) I took time to stop and ponder all that might have been happening in Mary's heart as she heard these words.

"Greetings…"

After 400 years of radio silence from God He sends a heavenly messenger to a lower-class single woman living oppressed under Roman rule. Nobody who was "anybody" in her world ever noticed her.  And with no warning at all Mary is suddenly aware that she is SEEN by the most important ONE of all. 

Isn't this what all of us long for, to be seen?

"Highly favored one…"

Before she can even get over the shock of God seeing her, she is told she is favored by Him. He has CHOSEN her out above all the rest.

And don't all our hearts beat with the same desire? From day one of our existence we long to be loved, special, chosen.

"The Lord is with you…"

The incredible news continues to roll in. Since leaving the garden of Eden God has not dwelled WITH us...until now.  And it starts with Mary. He even calls His Son, Immanuel: God with us.

It's what we all long for and what drives us to be seen and chosen, our deep need for relationship. We long to be WITH.

 Through Mary's story God begins to restore us to Himself: 

The One Who sees us. 

The One Who chooses us.

The One who offers to be With us. 

In Mary's story we witness the beautiful unfolding what God has been doing over and over from the beginning of creation, reaching out and entering into relationship with anyone who is willing. 

"...even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ…" Ephesians 1:4-5a

Dear One, you are SEEN.

4 More Easy Steps to Becoming an Old Lady

 Step 6. 

Now that your kids tower over you, and try to push you over when they hug you, they are not so small and cuddly any more. Brace yourself for a big row with hubby and buy a small dog that will forever remain cute and cuddly (except when it is barfing up the stick of butter it swiped off the table).

Step 7. 

Time to put those knitting skills to good use now that you actually have time to knit again - there are hundreds of free doggy knitting patterns just calling your name.

Step 8. 

Remember the good ol' days (a year ago) when you used to go to body pump three times a week? That was silly! Instead of bulking up you are more focused on stretching out those tight achy muscles at yoga.

Step 9. 

 Say goodbye to real butter, white rice, white bread, anything tasty…except chocolate, never say goodbye to good dark chocolate.

5 Easy Steps to Becoming an Old Lady

 With the top of the hill in (hind) sight, I pause to the reflect on the easy downhill slide into older age. And yes, I know in 20 years I'll think 40ish is young, but the progression to older is gradual even if it comes faster every year. Here are 5 easy steps to join me in "laughing at the future" (Proverbs 31:25). 

Step 1

Instead of posting pics of your cute babies because they now are too busy glaring at you in embarrassed dismay, post pictures of the flowers, tomatoes and green beans you are growing this year. 

Step 2

Now that you have all teens they stay up way past your own bedtime. Instead of reading to them perched on the side of their beds, let them turn out the light for you on their way out of your room after you enjoy another chapter together. Or, more likely, remind them to clean up after their 3rd post dinner snack as you head off to bed.

Step 3

Ask your husband to buy you a hummingbird feeder for your birthday. Now that you don't have to constantly be watching your kids to keep them from serious injury, you have a few moments to watch other things. 

Step 4

You might be feeling discouraged by now so let me give you one tip to govern that downhill speed. With a few adjustments you can put off glasses even longer - just increase that font size on your kindle and convince your family to move the family pew up a few rows. The upside to continuing to put off getting glasses is you can't see those new laugh lines very well.

Step 5

Comment frequently on the weather, your latest lab results and PT for that tendinitis. Privately ponder over how your undergarments all started rapidly shrinking - surely the dryer is on the fritz or it's cheap GMO'd defective cotton. Commiserate with your friends over coffee how they just don't make things to last like they used to in the good ol' days.

Lest you think these years are far ahead of you, be careful and watch your step!