Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

And the word became flesh

Monday, December 31, 2018

From John 1
And the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth.

Ideas like rivers flow through Miles' mind, they don't stop to consider themselves, they just move on and carry along whatever is in their path. He helps with everything, or thinks he does. He wants to stir the eggs and peel the orange, he puts food of every kind on his very own plate, he tries to eat it all at once but fails, and then when we're all done he pushes the dishwasher door shut with a giant, groaning shove. He smiles very wide. He is his own hero, once again.

It may not efficient, these words made flesh so to speak, but there is no doubt how much he learns each day. Our moments may seem monotonous, but his are magical. We may unwisely consider our knowledge complete, or at least act like it is, but his always teems with new, every ding-dong day, and he jumps and down looking for more.

This boy cries like a river now and then, but far more often he laughs like a fountain. He would be happy to read books to us rather than be read to, and it won't be long before that's exactly what he'll do. Surely Jesus when he was two showed just a bit of the wisdom he shared so clearly at age 12. I wonder what Miles will be like at 12.

Will he be asking difficult questions? He already is. Will he have learned to worship? He begins most of our prayers right now, although he's not sure how to continue them. And I imagine Jesus, like Miles, ending his prayers with a resounding, bright-smiling wide-eyed "Amen!" and a crackling clap. Hands and mouth and cheeks and teeth all pray, all eat, all sleep, all the time. There is no careful placement of anything yet. Surely Jesus must have looked like this - and it was all Mary and Joseph could do to love him and hold him, teach him and learn from him, always choosing wonder, being awed by his presence. Yes, that's right, I think. Awed.

And we see his glory, yes, the glory as of the Father's son, full of grace and truth. Held up, held close, held with joy and peace, the boy becomes a man.

Miles is sleeping now, his noontime two hour nap. After his nap we'll go to the new library in downtown Austin. His parents are book people. He is a book person too. The world is a fascinating place. Miles will be studying something, I think, for the rest of his life. Just like Jesus.

Lord remind us, again and again, how close you always are. This may be the last day of our 2018; it's only the first day of the rest of our life with you. Sweet dreams, baby Jesus. Sweet dreams to you, too. God bless us all, every one.

Devotions Archive

And the word became flesh

Monday, December 31, 2018