When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2: 10-11
Last week while out walking, I got this idea to drop off New Year’s Eve bags to my Sunday School families. I felt it was a way to connect with them and to say hello! My thoughts then went to what I would put in the bags. Well, I decided on a bag of microwave popcorn, some hot cocoa, candy and of course some noise makers because what is New Year’s Eve without noise makers, right? But I also wanted to add something that would help families to come together and have a time for conversation.
I settled on a coloring page that they could do together, but it wasn’t just a simple coloring page it had places for the families to think about their hopes, dreams, goals and intentions for the new year. My immediate reaction was yes this is perfect but then I began to hesitate. Would they think this was weird? I worried that it might put pressure on the families. That they would feel that they had to do this and if they didn’t, would they then feel guilt?
I became aware that those were my concerns, and I was placing them onto my families, so I decided to trust my initial reaction. I needed to give them the option and let them decide if this was an activity that was good for their family. That decision was not mine to make and if I didn’t include the coloring page then I was making the decision for them. So, I included it in the bag with all the other goodies.
Today is Epiphany, when we celebrate the magi coming to Jesus and his birth being revealed to the whole world. When I began to get responses from the families, I had that a-ha moment that I didn’t need to worry about it because God would do God’s work when they explored the things inside the bag. Epiphanies don’t just happen on this day but happen all the time. Make sure to take time to see those Epiphany moments.
God,
You are always at work within and around us and because of that we experience those moments of awe and understanding. Those moments when the lightbulb turns on and we get it. Sometimes we get busy doing all our stuff and miss those epiphanies. Help us to slow down, to keep our eyes and ears open so that we don’t miss them. So that we can experience your wonder.
Amen
Marty