With great excitement, our son Nathan came home from school and announced that he had his first loose tooth! Since then, we have been receiving daily updates. And daily questions. Mommy, how much do you think I will get from the Tooth Fairy? Daddy, when do you think my tooth will fall out? Now our favorite dinner table game is predicting the date and the time of the much anticipated event.
The loose tooth also provides an opportunity to teach our son about dental hygiene.
“Daddy, why do your teeth fall out?”
“To make room for your adult teeth.”
“Will they fall out?”
“No, they are your permanent teeth. So you have to take good care of them. You don’t get any more replacements.”
“Unless they’re fake, like grandma’s, right?”
This whole experience started getting me thinking about advent. In this season when we greatly anticipate the arrival of our newborn king, we are called to make room for God in our lives. Much of the time, that means that we have to lose a few things, give them up, reorient our time and attention to the coming of the kingdom of God.
But here is the problem. Sometimes we don’t want to let go of those old things. We cling to old habits. And this can lead to personal struggle.
So, it’s no wonder that our Gospel writers often talk about the trials of the end times. Jesus himself says in Mark 13:7, “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.”
Whether we embrace it our not, change is coming to our lives. Jesus is coming again to make all things new. And this time, it’s going to be permanent.
I can imagine that sometimes God feels that “it’s like pulling teeth” to get us humans to accept the truth about the changes that are coming. During the season of Advent, we are called to reflect on our lives. Look into the heart of our daily struggles. And discern what God is asking us to let loose, let go, and give up in order to make room for new life. Jesus reminds us that all of the uncertainties and struggles of these days are “but the beginning of the birth pangs” (Make 13:8)
Whatever pain, sickness, or difficulty we experience will not last. The permanent, all-encompassing reign of the Prince of Peace is still to come.
So there is only one question left.
When is it going to happen, Daddy?
Peace be with you,
Pastor Brad
With great excitement, our son Nathan came home from school and announced that he had his first loose tooth! Since then, we have been receiving daily updates. And daily questions. Mommy, how much do you think I will get from the Tooth Fairy? Daddy, when do you think my tooth will fall out? Now our favorite dinner table game is predicting the date and the time of the much anticipated event.
The loose tooth also provides an opportunity to teach our son about dental hygiene.
“Daddy, why do your teeth fall out?”
“To make room for your adult teeth.”
“Will they fall out?”
“No, they are your permanent teeth. So you have to take good care of them. You don’t get any more replacements.”
“Unless they’re fake, like grandma’s, right?”
This whole experience started getting me thinking about advent. In this season when we greatly anticipate the arrival of our newborn king, we are called to make room for God in our lives. Much of the time, that means that we have to lose a few things, give them up, reorient our time and attention to the coming of the kingdom of God.
But here is the problem. Sometimes we don’t want to let go of those old things. We cling to old habits. And this can lead to personal struggle.
So, it’s no wonder that our Gospel writers often talk about the trials of the end times. Jesus himself says in Mark 13:7, “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.”
Whether we embrace it our not, change is coming to our lives. Jesus is coming again to make all things new. And this time, it’s going to be permanent.
I can imagine that sometimes God feels that “it’s like pulling teeth” to get us humans to accept the truth about the changes that are coming. During the season of Advent, we are called to reflect on our lives. Look into the heart of our daily struggles. And discern what God is asking us to let loose, let go, and give up in order to make room for new life. Jesus reminds us that all of the uncertainties and struggles of these days are “but the beginning of the birth pangs” (Make 13:8)
Whatever pain, sickness, or difficulty we experience will not last. The permanent, all-encompassing reign of the Prince of Peace is still to come.
So there is only one question left.
When is it going to happen, Daddy?
Peace be with you,
Pastor Brad