Wonder

I think, sometimes, we get so bogged down with the cares of life, that what is truly important kind of gets lost in the shuffle. It is then that we find ourselves blessed to be reminded of important truths by seeing through the eyes of a child ...

One pre-Christmas morn, our resident toddler emerged from his room—and stopped in awe.  While he slept, his mother had worked on setting up the family Christmas tree. Although still not boasting all the decorations she intended to lavish on it, it was a vision of cheery lights.

Though this was technically his second Christmas, Baby had no memories of the one he had experienced as a five month old … but now! Now his cherubic mouth opened into the cutest “O” of wonder as he breathed out an astonished, “Oh, wow!” His innocent joy sent ripples of corresponding joy throughout the room, infusing each family member with a fresh appreciation for the beauty of the season. No longer merely a humdrum Christmas embellishment, through the eyes of a little child the tree took on fresh charm and attraction.

And, you know what? Every single morning for the duration of the Christmas season the scene was repeated. Every single morning Baby Azra would walk up to the tree and breath a worshipful, “Wow!”

Dewey-eyed genuineness. Heartwarming, moving, absolute glory, appreciated every day.

Baby Azra’s unpretentious response to his introduction to Christmas decor is one of the most moving pictures ever of what our response to the glory of God should be. A simple Christmas tree, a reciprocal fountain of joy.

While there are times when the glory of God expresses itself in grandiose ways—the heavens filling with hosts of angels singing the praises of God, Elisha being swept up to heaven in a whirlwind amidst a chariot of fire, the Red Sea parting to let God’s people escape certain death and imprisonment—we must not forget that more often than not the glory of God is found in low-key manifestations, glory we might miss if we blink or fail to look with purposeful appreciation. It seems that the older we are, the more life’s hard knocks have hardened our hearts, the more we forget to see.

Beyond flashing lights, ear-splitting thunder, and earth shaking events can be found the still, small voice in which the prophet heard the voice of God. While impressive moves of God have their place, there are so many “small”, seemingly “insignificant” happenings that cry out for recognition. A bird flitting by. A "small" answer to prayer requesting to be able to finish a task. Sharing a meal with a loved one. Beautiful, beautiful glory.

It was not in the opulence of grand castles that the Son of God made His appearance. It was not in the effusive spectacle of a grandiose ceremony in which He made Himself known. No, He came to a humble stable, to humble human parents, to be announced to men whose occupation relegated them to the bottom rung of Palestine’s social ladder.

The Scripture does say that, after announcing the holy birth of the only begotten Son of God to lowly shepherds in the fields, the heaven was filled with angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ” That was a magnificent vision, more impressive than the most elaborate presentation of Handel's Messiah could ever be. But it came on the heels many "small" manifestations of the glory of God. The glory of God manifested in the simple, in the humble, in those hidden from the upper echelons of society.

The glory of God is not confined to the limitations of fancy-shmancy ceremonies, high-falutin’ aristocracy, nor even awe-inspiring structures. More often than not it is to be found in the humble, “little” every day things that surround us. Those places in which we must make a conscious effort to open our eyes, to see.

Lord, open our eyes, so that we can see that which is glorious in Your eyes—those things that are simple, those things that are genuine, those things that reflect Your love for us. Help us recognize the value of those "simple" things that we may join our voices to Azra’s with a sincere, “Oh, wow.”

"And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17).

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty: the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3).

"The heavens declare the glory of God; ad the firmament sheweth his handywork" (Psalm 19:1).