Awe and Wonder

I will openly admit it… I LOVE Christmas!  And the cowboy in our house seems to be “mini-me” in this regard.  As I have put up all our decorations over the past week he has been SO excited.  One night he kept dancing around saying “We love Christmas!” over and over. 

It has been fun to watch him, and fun to decorate a new house for the first time (even if (a)’s personalized stocking somehow got misplaced in the move…).  (a) has “oohed” and “aahhed” over the lights and been excited about helping me to decorate our trees.  It has also led to some interesting discussions.  He had three snowmen ornaments out one evening and they were “playing together” and having a conversation.  I was sort of half-listening to it as I worked when I heard a loud “No way, Jose!” I turned and asked why they were talking to each other like that, and (a) informed me that the snowman who is holding a broom (who he referred to as “she”) had told the others to clean.  Guess I know his feelings on that subject! 

My favorite conversation however, came one evening as he was singing “Happy Birthday.”  He likes that song and sings it often, so I wasn’t surprised that he was singing it randomly to some tree ornaments.  As he danced around, I asked who he was singing to.  He told me “Happy Birfday to da snowman!”  I laughed, and then told him we should practice singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  Remember, I told him, Jesus’s birthday is why we celebrate Christmas.  He then looked at me and asked “Is Jesus going to drive to our house in his car?”  I couldn’t help but giggle, but it went on to be a great conversation about how Jesus doesn’t have a car and we wouldn’t see him walk through our door because he already lives in our house all the time, he lives in our hearts.  It was a conversation similar to one we’d had the week before when he asked “Where is God?”

I am no expert at answering his thoughtful little questions in a way that a toddler can understand, but I love that he asks them.  I love seeing the awe and wonder and listening to those little questions pop out of his mind as we look at this season and its true meaning.  And his awe and innocence makes me think… I don’t ever want to lose the awe and wonder of it all.  As this season gets hectic with school programs and church dinners, gift wrapping and family get togethers, may I never lose the awe and wonder of it all… may I stand in AWE of the fact that God the Father loved me enough to send his perfect Son to earth as a baby.  May I take in the WONDER of the miracle surrounding his birth.  That when we say “Oh come, let us adore Him” we aren’t just adoring a precious baby in a manger, but adoring the immense love in that sacrifice. 

May the awe and wonder of the season continue to bring questions I’m not good at answering.  May the awe and wonder lead to more conversations about the best gift of all and the hope that He brings.  May the awe and wonder of His peace keep us grounded through the hectic parts of the season.  May I always remember to look at HIM with awe and wonder.

“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6