Tip of My Iceberg

With the number of people in our family, we have birthdays just about every month. But when May hit–“Maycember” because it gets as crazy as December–we had to put off several birthdays to be able to give them appropriate appreciation.

We’ve had more cake in the past several days than is healthy for anyone to consume.

With cake there needs to be ice cream.

Nobody was watching Nolan as he was eating his cake and ice cream–actually, dumping his cake on the floor and trying desperately to eat what was melting way too quickly.

Giving up on utensils, Nolan chose to slurp his dessert from his plate, dripping it down his front but getting as much as he could.

Because he couldn’t bear to not get it all. Single-minded focus.

When people savor what matters to them, there’s satisfaction that fills a person up–whether it’s with ice cream or an accomplishment that has taken great amounts of time to do. Overcoming personal obstacles and challenging ourselves to new heights can be things we relish because of how we’ve conquered what has stopped our progress in the past.

It’s easy, however, to lose sight of what brings us joy when so much of life is yelling at us to pay attention to this or give heed to that. Being quiet enough to hear what’s in our hearts can be daunting.

When Jesus came to earth, He did so because He delighted in us so much He didn’t want heaven to be without us. We needed help–we can’t be acceptable to our perfect God when we’re so broken. So Jesus came to take our brokenness on Himself, giving us His holiness and perfection.

A trade He relished.

“…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1b-2

Heaven would be more enjoyable to Him because we would be there. Jesus savored that hope, and it gave Him the courage and strength to put up with the pain, trauma, and humiliation of being crucified.

So He could offer us heaven.

He teaches us how to relish what matters.

No excess utensils needed.