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the 7th day of Christmas

On the seventh day of Christmas my True Love gave to me, seven crazy feelings, six proclamations, five broken dreams, four upset parents, three gifts from wisemen, two speaking prophets, and a great big herd of bleating, dumb sheep.

What were things like for you when your children were infants and you had to be somewhere?  I imagine things were rushed, hectic, kind of crazy. And how did your husband respond?  Did he help change that last minute wet diaper?  Get exasperated because the baby woke up early for feeding right as it's time to go? Or did he help you get things ready and not complain when your schedule had to change at the last moment?

I've often wondered what things were like for Mary the day they headed to the temple for the purification rights and Jesus' dedication. Was it a crazy, rushed morning?  Was she still too tired and exhausted to desire to see anyone? Was she concerned about taking such a small thing to the busy, crowded temple?  And then to have a man come up and take her child, and say the following things:
  1. I can now die. The person holding my baby is talking about dying.  WHAT?
  2. I have seen God's salvation.  What does this mean? Has he seen Gabriel as well?  Will everyone believe me now?
  3. He will be the Light to the Gentiles.  Ummm....that can't be good. Gentiles are unclean. Not sure that's who I want my boy hanging out with.
  4. He will be glory to Israel. YES!!! 
  5. Your child has is the chosen one to make many fall and rise in our country. Are you saying he'll be in politics?  A political planner?  A rebel?  A soldier?
  6. He will be opposed. A rallying point for the oppressed. Oh my poor boy.
  7. A sword will pierce your soul (was he talking to Mary or Christ here? I've never been totally certain.) so that others THOUGHTS will be revealed.  The power to reveal thoughts is kind of cool, but the shivers at the word sword have not stopped, yet.  A sword in his SOUL? Will that kill him or just severely maim him? 
I can't help but wonder what on earth Joseph and Mary were thinking during Simeon's proclamation. You know how people make statements to you that make you gasp inside and you're not quite sure how to take it?  A part of me thinks they must have felt that way. Uncertain. Elated. Angry. Confused. Saddened. Scared. Amused.




As warped as this may be, I find it somewhat reassuring that God's statements and plans are still the same. They still create mixed emotions in our lives and are still often unclear to our blinded eyes. I find it comforting that God doesn't ask us to jump for joy and obey with eager anticipation.  He simply asks obedience and tolerates our questions and confusion. And I love and appreciate Him for that. I'm glad he doesn't simply squash this lump of clay, but keeps molding and forming me. He's such a cool Creator!
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