(Its been a busy weekend here, celebrating my sweet Emily’s 9th birthday – so, I’m posting some thoughts from the Christmas season last year… )
The Hiding Place…
My daughter discovered it this morning. The giant ornament. Its a red and green striped ball about 12 inches around and it sits out at my mom and dad’s house every Christmas. Sometimes it appears on the dining room table, sometimes on the coffee table in the living room. But its always a part of the holiday decorations.
There’s more to this ornament than meets the eye. I’ve known it all along and I suppose I thought my daughter knew too – but she didn’t. Secretly its a candy dish. The small gold hanger on the ornament is also a handle that pulls the top of the ornament off and inside there are M&M’s. Always.
As the events of our day unfolded, I watched my daughter from a distance. She was circling the perimeter of the large ornament. It occurred to me then that she was not sure of what was inside. M&M’s are a favorite candy, so her discovery would be cause for unbridled enthusiasm, I was sure. When she finally lifted the lid, she grabbed a handful of the red and green candies and ran over to me. Like a Pirate who had just found the buried treasure she said, “MOMMY! There are M&M’s in that ornament!” When I confessed to knowing, she demanded why I had kept the secret from her…
I can’t help but be reminded of my own response to the Heavenly Father sometimes. When I find that special portion of Scripture that is especially tantalizing, I have been known to ask, “Why have you been hiding this from me? Why didn’t you show this to me sooner?” But in my heart of hearts I know, He has not been hiding it from me. Instead, He has been waiting for me to search a little harder, in His Word. He anticipates my delight in the surprises He has prepared for me.
The Psalmist had this to say about the precepts of The Lord:
“The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.”
There are times when God’s word truly is sweeter to me than any bakery confection, tastier than even the finest freshly harvested honey. There is nothing better in my heart and on my mind than His word directly applied to my “sweet tooth.” I’m hoping to have a few quiet moments soon and enjoy His word in a fresh way over the coming week.
Maybe I’ll have a few M&M’s while I read… if there are any left!
md
(originally written December 19, 2009)
daily portion 