Two nights over the Thanksgiving holiday my husband, Franklin, and I slept on a concrete floor. I’d actually asked for the space we slept in as it was the coolest part of my sister and brother-in-law’s home. I’d been under the weather and seemed to cough more when I was too warm. We were actually quite comfortable with camping pads and a pile of quilts. Our sleeping arrangements gave me pause to think about comfort before drifting off to sleep because Comfort Really Does Matter.
Certainly our perception of “comfort” is relative. While the Kim Kardashians of the world might baulk at my Wal-Mart jeans and Target leggings, I’ve always had a roof over my head, 3 meals a day, and a closet full of clothes to choose from. From my perch atop my lap of luxury I certainly have a hard time imagining “comfortable” in the life of one of the 3 billion people in the world who live on $2.50 or less a day.
In many other ways I have a life of “comfort”. Over Thanksgiving I was blessed to have my children, my mom, all of my siblings, their spouses, and their children together for 4 days. I enjoyed my first snow of the year (a beautiful, soft Colorado snow) from a warm window seat and certainly enjoyed my time with my extended family!
I’ve pondered “comfort” in another context quite a bit this fall in Community Bible Study. We’ve been camped in 1 John for a while and have been considering what the directive “abide in The Lord” might really look like in our lives. One of the definitions, the idea that when we “abide in The Lord” we’re comfortable with the things and the way of The Lord, has really had me thinking.
Grandmother Billie is a beautiful example of being comfortable with the ways and the things of The Lord. Billie, our oldest’s great-grandmother, loves her time with Bailey. Bailey will share about his life and her comments are sprinkled with, “Praise The Lord!”, “Thank You, Jesus!”, and “Lord, You are good!” exclamations.
She’s comfortable in the ways of The Lord and would likewise be very uncomfortable sitting with us if we were listening to, watching, or engaging in things that are contrary to The Lord’s ways.
We were challenged to pick a day and imagine Jesus physically sitting with us, working beside us, and eating with us – never leaving our side for an entire day. While God’s Holy Spirit is with us in this way, every day, we often negate His presence in our busy, me-centered lives. This challenge really gave me food for thought.
Do we live in such a way that Jesus would be comfortable being with us from sunup to sundown? Would our morning routine make Him comfortable? Would the programming (TV, playlists, radio, facebook) we choose to watch and listen to make Him comfortable? Would my interactions with my children, my response to frustrations throughout the day, my conversations with friends, and my attitude toward my husband make Him comfortable? Would He be comfortable with how I choose to spend my time?
What a beautiful season we’ve entered. As we marvel in the birth of Jesus Christ and wait, expectantly, for His second coming, I’m challenged to focus on The Lord; His presence in my life, His ways, and His mind. He’s asking me to value Him above all the craziness in the world and the traps of craziness in this season. He’s calling me to be content with what I have, because what I have is amazing! I have the perfect Father (who is good and right and just) and salvation through the birth, death, and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for me. What more could I ask for?
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