Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Advent [2] - Surprises
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The last few days were a little rough for both Kellye and I - she has been feeling somewhat sick, we had several long days at school, and then the work at home has kept us focused on our computer screens instead of each other. On Wednesday nights she goes to her graduate class at Ohio Dominican and so is out of the house for about 4 hours. I had an idea this morning for a surprise to do while she was away.
We have always bought a real Christmas tree - except our first Christmas together at Lee when we had a $10 fake tree that you could see straight through....so funny. Anyway, something about going to the tree lot, struggling to get it into the house and set it up straight in the tree stand, the needles falling all over the floor, having to water it every day, and the wonderful pine smell in the house just really "feels like Christmas" to me. This year, we were debating about a tree because we are going to be in Guatemala from Dec. 13-23. But I decided today that while Kellye was at her class, I would go pick up a tree and have it set up in the house when she got home as a surprise. I would also wrap her Christmas gift and have it under the tree, because she loves opening presents and the way the tree looks with presents under it (honestly, who doesn't?)
As I was setting up the tree, I thought about how excited I was to surprise her. It was something I knew she would really like. I went out of my way to get it all together. It was a bit of work, took some time, but I couldn't wait for her to come home and see what I had done to make her a little bit more happy, to help her sickness not seem like such a big deal, to lessen the burdens of the work day in some small way. That feeling of anticipation, of excitement to surprise someone I love so much, felt very much like Christmas, very much like God's heart.
This is very anthropomorphic, but I like thinking about God being stoked to surprise the world with Jesus. Something that he had been preparing, planning, waiting to give those whom he loved. Something so amazing that he knew would change their lives in a really significant way. Something that was unexpected, but yet needed and anticipated as well.
I think God really likes to surprise us - that's a big part of Christmas, and I think a big part of life too.
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Now playing: Jeremy Enigk - Shade and the Black Hat
via FoxyTunes
The last few days were a little rough for both Kellye and I - she has been feeling somewhat sick, we had several long days at school, and then the work at home has kept us focused on our computer screens instead of each other. On Wednesday nights she goes to her graduate class at Ohio Dominican and so is out of the house for about 4 hours. I had an idea this morning for a surprise to do while she was away.
We have always bought a real Christmas tree - except our first Christmas together at Lee when we had a $10 fake tree that you could see straight through....so funny. Anyway, something about going to the tree lot, struggling to get it into the house and set it up straight in the tree stand, the needles falling all over the floor, having to water it every day, and the wonderful pine smell in the house just really "feels like Christmas" to me. This year, we were debating about a tree because we are going to be in Guatemala from Dec. 13-23. But I decided today that while Kellye was at her class, I would go pick up a tree and have it set up in the house when she got home as a surprise. I would also wrap her Christmas gift and have it under the tree, because she loves opening presents and the way the tree looks with presents under it (honestly, who doesn't?)
As I was setting up the tree, I thought about how excited I was to surprise her. It was something I knew she would really like. I went out of my way to get it all together. It was a bit of work, took some time, but I couldn't wait for her to come home and see what I had done to make her a little bit more happy, to help her sickness not seem like such a big deal, to lessen the burdens of the work day in some small way. That feeling of anticipation, of excitement to surprise someone I love so much, felt very much like Christmas, very much like God's heart.
This is very anthropomorphic, but I like thinking about God being stoked to surprise the world with Jesus. Something that he had been preparing, planning, waiting to give those whom he loved. Something so amazing that he knew would change their lives in a really significant way. Something that was unexpected, but yet needed and anticipated as well.
I think God really likes to surprise us - that's a big part of Christmas, and I think a big part of life too.
----------------
Now playing: Jeremy Enigk - Shade and the Black Hat
via FoxyTunes
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2 comments:
That's pretty sweet, I like the connection :)
And that simple act did exactly what you had hoped- it made me feel
"a little bit more happy, helped my sickness not seem like such a big deal, and lessened the burdens of the work day." Life is just better with Christmas tree in December, and Guat just around the corner :) Thanks for always putting me first- I love you.
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