As a mom of four boys (ranging in age from 9 to 15), there are certain things from their baby days that have never faded from my mind and have etched an indelible memory that I will forever hold dear in my heart. One such memory can be traced back to their quiet, dimly lit, Noah’s ark themed nursery. When they were just infants and toddlers sleeping in a crib, knowing I was near was all the comfort they needed. I didn’t have to be in the crib with them (although if I could have pulled that off, they probably would not have objected), just being beside them normally calmed the anxiety they felt and relaxed them for a more peaceful rest. They wanted me near.
Near — where they could lift their weary head and peek through the rungs of their crib to see me there sitting in the rocking chair beside them.
Near — where they could hear my voice as I prayed over them, read for them, or sung a quiet song to them.
Near — where they could reach their tiny hand out through the wooden slats as an invitation to hold it and provide yet another layer of security to their little hearts. They could literally feel me close by.
I also watched this attribute of God illustrated on occasion at the park or when they were learning to walk. Whether they were coming down the slide or taking wobbly, unsure steps in my direction, the one thing that gave them confidence and comfort to move forward was my nearness. Knowing I was near, there to wrap them up in my open arms at the bottom of the slide or at the end of their brief and unsteady jaunt, was all they needed.
Nearness is a precious gift we give those we love, and it has the power to change a heart.
When a friend is sad, lonely, or grieving, nearness is a gift we can give them that speaks far more than the words we say in our feeble attempt to comfort them. Nearness is the gift we can give that elderly neighbor or grandparent that lacks the ability to draw near to others because of physical limitations. Nearness invades the empty space of loneliness and fills it with joy. Furrowed brows and melancholy stares are transformed into grateful smiles and softened eyes. This outer expression of the inner joy that moved into that troubled heart reminds us of the power that simply being near can hold. The gift of nearness is a gift that keeps on giving as it produces not only joy, but hope, security, and love. When we receive those things, we live those things, and then we are able to give those things to others.
Nearness is a precious gift our Heavenly Father gives us, and it has the power to change our lives.
He loves us so much that He chose to leave His majestic, holy, perfect throne in Heaven and draw near to us by becoming one of us. He gave us the gift of nearness in the form of a baby, Jesus, His only son. That gift moved into the lonely space sin had created by separating us from Him. We don't deserve His nearness, but He graciously draws near to us every day…as we draw near to Him. I jokingly commented earlier about how my boys would not have objected to my crawling into their crib with them to physically lie down beside them. That silly scenario provides and perfect picture for what God did for us. He is not only near, He is also with us. Wow. He is Emmanuel, God with us. His nearness not only calms us, it redeems, restores, and reconciles us. He drew near to save us. He longs to be with us, and He is waiting to see how we will respond.
James 4:8a says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.”
We have a part to play in receiving this gift of nearness.
Psalm 145:118a says, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him…”
We must want it. Desire it. Call on Him. Pray. Seek.
When my boys were lying in that crib, perhaps afraid of the dark, lonely, or not wanting to rest, they longed for my presence in that nursery with them. We may have had a terrible day full of tantrums and turmoil, and I may have been physically exhausted myself, but this momma’s heart also longed to be with them, to comfort them, to give them the gift of my nearness. I wanted to be there when those weary eyes opened to catch a glimpse and see that I was still there. I wanted them to hear my voice singing and praying over them. I wanted to hold their tiny hand when they reached out for mine.
Perhaps you may be going through a difficult and lonely time, or a time of stress that is hindering your ability to rest. Your Father’s heart longs to give you the gift of His nearness. He hears your cry for help and sees your attempt to draw near to Him.
Psalm 16:8 says, “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.”
He is right there. He is near. He will always be there to remind you of the power of His Presence. When you peek through the problems, listen for His still, small voice, or reach out to Him, you will see, hear, and feel His Presence.
He wants you to see Him, in all of His glory and in the amazing things He is doing in, through, and all around you.
He wants you to hear Him — hear His Voice and His Word above the lies of the enemy and the loud voices of the world that attempt to drown out His Words of Life.
He wants you to feel Him — experience His peace producing presence that causes the weight of the world to fall off as you rest in Him.
So, declare that you are going to receive His gift of nearness this Christmas and throughout the year. Draw near to Him. Call on Him in prayer, and then watch and be amazed…He will draw near to you and answer that prayer in ways you never imagined.
Once when I was a teenager and had a friend visiting, my Mom stepped into the doorway of my room and said, “oh, I thought Lindsay was here. I heard you girls talking about her, so I assumed she must have joined you. Otherwise, you were just gossiping, which isn’t nice. So, unless you can say it to her, you don’t need to say it about her.” Of course, I was embarrassed. But, I learned a valuable lesson from my Mom.
“Older women likewise are meant to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips . . . so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” ~ Titus 2:3-5
Nothing is more harmful to relationships between women than gossip.
Picture a Christmas party. Lots of women, lots of smiling and chatting. Now consider that there may be many pre-believers or new believers in the room. Christmas is a time when our faith is front and center. There are parties and gatherings of all kinds of people. Christmas is one time of year when the door to sharing our faith is wide open.
Now, back to that party ~ remember that every woman has a suitcase full of hurts she carries around with her. The last thing she needs from someone who says they believe in Jesus is the old, familiar gossip. She may think, “what’s the point ~ Christians are just like everyone else.” If conversations among Christian women sound like gossip, a pre-believer’s skepticism might push out that small, still voice calling her to Christ. A new believer’s trust in a new life with Christ may waver.
Just eight years ago, I was that woman. As I reflected on my time as a new believer, I realized something powerful: I could not recall a single time when I heard my pastor’s wife talk about another person. I really pushed my mind to rewind the memories because I thought surely I could find a moment where gossip sneaked into our conversation . . . nope. Never.
Her refusal to engage in gossip must be one of the reasons why I connected with her so easily. She began by inviting me to join her for coffee. I felt safe with her. I felt listened to. I felt like she was opening up to me, too. Because our conversations circled around only those present, the conversations were deep and rich.
If you want to try something new this holiday season, try “contact conversation.” Contact conversation means you cannot say something about another person unless you can literally reach out and touch them. If you are at a Christmas party and something comes to mind about another person and you are about to speak it, picture your hand reaching out and making physical contact with that person. Can’t reach her? Can’t make contact with her? Then don’t say it. Ask the Lord to close your mouth.
Practice “contact conversations” during this holiday party season and watch your relationships thrive.
Merry Christmas, ~Kim Erickson~ www.LoveMyWord.com
My earliest memories of Christmas celebrations took place on Long Island, the place of my birth and where I grew up from the late 60’s through the early 90’s. And I’m going to say it just as generations before me have said it. It really was a simpler time than it is today. It was a time where kids heard the word “no” more than “yes.” At least that’s how it was for us. From a very early age, my siblings and I were of the mindset that money did not “grow on trees,” because that was something we heard expressed from my mother on a weekly basis. Money was tight in our home. We did not get everything we wanted, and yet, I don’t remember ever feeling that we went without. However, at Christmas time, it was different. I don’t how my parents did it. My parents raised 7 kids on a teacher’s salary and still somehow managed to make Christmas the most magical time of year for us.
Every year it was the same. We would wait for the Christmas catalogues to arrive, circle the items we wanted most, make our lists and write our letters to Santa. Rigging up the lights, decorating the house, putting up the tree, hanging the stockings…yep, all of that took place weeks before Christmas. Baking pies and cookies you only made that one time of year, buying and wrapping gifts for loved ones and friends, singing in holiday concerts at school, (yes, they called it that back then) attending Christmas Eve service, spending time with family . . . all continue to be beautiful memories for me.
I remember how my sisters and brothers and I would sneak down the stairsat ungodly hours to catch a glimpse of what Santa left us. We were never disappointed at the sight.
Colorful lights twinkled on the tree in the darkened living room, and the gifts I knew my mother sacrificed much for were expertly arranged under and around the tree. My dad would take out his movie camera, and then the fun would begin. It really was a magical sight for a kid with a big imagination. I don’t know what it is about Christmas trees. I love their simple beauty. My sister Debbie caught me just standing there in the dark looking at our tree one Christmas Day. She put her arm around me and started to sing “Oh, Christmas Tree.” I think she was making fun of me, but it made me laugh. To this day, it has become our tradition to stand in front of the Christmas tree with arms linked together and sway to that tune.
Christmastime has always been my favorite time of year. I love it. I love everything about it. I confess proudly that I don’t mind hearing Christmas music being played on the radio before Thanksgiving is over or that the malls are decorated with lights and Christmas trees at the end of October. Don’t get me started on Black Friday deals. I enjoy picking out gifts that will bring smiles on faces receiving them. It’s not surprising that in our home, during this time of year, the Hallmark channel is the only channel that works on our TV. And crazy enough, I even love it when I feel slightly stressed that I won’t get everything done in time before the big day arrives, because I know it is going to be ok. The baking and decorating, the shopping and wrapping and giving and serving; somehow it all gets done. Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming! I feel just as excited about it now as I did when I was a kid.
And of course, I know that Christmas is so much more than any of these other things that bring me joy for the season. In the midst of the chaos, preparations, and traditions I can’t bring myself to lose sight of the fact that it’s the time of year when everyone just seems a little kinder, a little more generous, a little more loving. It’s in the atmosphere…this peace on earth and good will toward man. I can’t lose sight of the fact that this beautiful feeling I have during this time of year is special because of the whole reason Christmas came to be. Yet, it’s more than a feeling for me. It’s a truth that I hang onto not just on Christmas Day. It’s a truth that touches my heart and never fails to bring tears to my eyes every time I hear it or read it from the book of Luke.
It’s THE story! It’s the story of God’s plan. It’s the story of a baby in a manger, born of a virgin…a gift of Hope from a loving God to all mankind. A gift of hope! Now that is something to celebrate! On Christmas, I celebrate THIS…the birth of God’s son, Jesus. I cannot forget this, because I desperately need the hope that knowing Jesus brings me… not just at Christmas, but all year round.
