I know that I don’t write very often, but let’s just face it…Brian is the writer in the family and I just end up babbling my way through posts – which is probably what I’ll end up doing this time too. But, I was overwhelmed by something today and felt like maybe I should share it, even if it does make me look like the worst missionary ever.
So, I’ve been planning this party for a couple of weeks now…not a big, elaborate thing by any means, but for me, it’s big. I’m not sure that we’ve EVER had a party at our house before so it’s been kinda fun for me to plan and to decorate and get ready for the big day tomorrow. Everyone’s invited and I am SO excited! Everyday I’ve done something more to get ready for it. I’ve even gotten Maycie involved by helping me make the decorations out of construction paper and glue and we’ve both had a blast doing it together.
As I was listening to worship music this morning while I did more planning for tomorrow, they were singing about what a glorious day it will be when we finally get to meet our King, face to face, and what an incredible moment that will be. Then my brain went off into a crazy whirlwind of thoughts about what that will be like and what it will mean for me and for ALL of His children. No more sorrow, no more pain, no more hate, no more missing family, no more arguements with Brian or coworkers, no more spanking my kids, no more, no more, no more, no more. But it wasn’t the “no mores” that excited me…it was the “mores” that really got me going. More believers all in one place, more celebrating, more worshipping our Creator, more of Him – we actually get to see His face! More joy, more love, more, more, more…
So what does this have to do with my party? Well, I was thinking about how excited I’ve been about the party and how I’ve planned and prepared for it and how I think about it everyday. And this is just a stupid little thing. Why don’t I have this same excitement for seeing my God – the One who saved me from a life of darkness, who gave His life for me so I could live with HIM! The One who loves me unconditionally, without limit or end. I thought I was excited about that glorious day until I thought about what I do when I get excited about earthly things. When I’m excited about something, I can’t stop thinking about it. I want to share that exciting thing with my kids and with Brian and with EVERYONE! Just like this party…and just like when I went home for Christmas, and just like when I get excited about a package received in the mail. These are such silly things to be so excited about, yet I show so much more excitement about them than I do about a God who is so madly and deeply in love with me, a God that I – me, this insignificant nothing – get to see face to face one day. THAT is a cause for excitement. I mean, isn’t that why I’m here in the first place? Because I want EVERONE to be able to have this kind of excitement and hope? Yes! Oh, but how easily and quickly I forget, even while I’m on the radio with Brian as he flies into these tribes to do just that.
My sister shared a blog with me the other day and all I had to do was read the title: The Very Worst Missionary, and I was relieved! Relieved that I wasn’t the only one who felt like the worst missionary in the world!
So…with my realization I had today, I want EVERYONE to know that I’m excited!!! I’m beyond excited! I get to be in Heaven with my Jesus, my King, my Saviour, the Lover of my soul and I get to be with Him SOON!!! The countdown has begun and if I knew exactly how many days until that day comes, I would hang a paper chain around my house and tear a piece off everyday. This will be the party of a lifetime – NOT like my party this weekend- and I want EVERYONE to come. So everyday I am going to think about it and plan for it and tell people about it and get my kids excited about it. Well, at least that’s what I want to do…the sad truth is that I WILL forget again, and I WILL be more excited about a party I’m throwing than about being taken out of this world and I’ll have to come back here and read my thoughts and be reminded about the ONLY real thing to be excited about – seeing Him, in all His glory and being able to spend eternity worshipping Him in heaven. Thank you Lord, for giving us something so incredible to look forward to.