Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
While visiting a friend at an upscale retirement center, we enjoyed seeing how different residents decorated their doorway for the holiday season. Some obviously had the artistic touch, while others elected to emphasize the spiritual meaning of Christmas. However, there was one we came across that really caught our attention. It read: “Dear Santa, All I want is a fat bank account & a skinny body. Please don’t mix it up again like last year!” Don’t you just love it!
Why is it, that even without ever having met this person, I’m still fairly certain I would like the individual who lives here? There are undoubtedly several reasons, but let’s start with just a few. First of all, they don’t seem to take themselves too seriously. Also, our goals and objectives seem to have a lot in common with the writer of the sign. But, then again, most of us wouldn’t mind receiving those wished for items on that want list. Put another way, it’s easy for us to identify with the owner of the sign.
Hopefully, most of us have grown beyond regarding God as a Super Santa, one who generously grants our every wish. Still, it’s sometimes tempting to relegate Him to that role. Ample are the promises that God will give us the desires of our heart. Confident assurance is gained from such passages as Isaiah 65:24 which reads: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (NIV) And yet we still become impatient when our prayers aren’t answered according to the time table we have set out.
Maybe what we need is simply to grow in our confidence that God is who He says He is, One who loves us without exception. It’s good to be able to rest in the assurance that God didn’t get it mixed up as Santa sometimes apparently does; that we can have confidence that His way is always the best way. May that be our gift this season. Merry Christmas!