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Tickled babies
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Fourth Week of Advent
Song of Solomon 2:10-12
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth, the time for pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
Mary visits her Auntie Elizabeth, and springtime beckons to them both. Their babies rush toward each other, and the mamas are tickled pink. Let us celebrate, they sing to each other. “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” And Mary’s soul magnifies the Lord.
To think all this happens today; the shortest day of the year, the first day of winter, yes, even on this, the Winter Solstice. After today, the days get longer. Brother Sun reminds us of our kinship and his commitment to our care, to the care of all the earth.
And to think, the One who made the sun and the moon and carried light into the darkness of the deep, He is tickling Mary’s womb with his laughter just now on this amazing day in the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
Aren’t you glad we can be here too? Do these stories ever cease to delight us? We are not just hangers-on; we are God’s children of every generation. For all this time God loves us, and these stories make for the joy of our salvation.
John dances in his mother’s womb, and we dance right along with him. It will be awhile before he lives in the desert on locusts and honey. He is not yet wearing a hair skin shirt. For now, in the presence of his king, little boy baby John leaps and laughs and praises God, and we do too.
Gabriel has been busy. Perhaps the angel is resting today, while those he touched remember his words and sing out their joy together. We are so blessed to join them.
Lord, as your angel said, let me not be afraid. Free me up from the restraints I have, Jesus, to be laughing and singing with joy in your sudden, surprising presence. Mary and Elizabeth lead the way. The wine flows, and your banqueting table groans, heavy with precious fruit, so that we all might be filled.
http://www.davesandel.net/category/lent-easter-devotions-2016/
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1539
