“Indeed, it was very good:” The 4th Day of Christmas
Grandaddy Derek and Beks
So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them…
God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply…”
… And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1: 27-38,31)
On the 4th Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: A noisy house!
The “12 Days of Christmas” song is all about the creative ways God continues to give, and with such generosity. It’s about the insistent imperative of life. The numbers represent 1 – Jesus; 2 – the Old & New Testaments; 3 – the Trinity; 4 – the four Gospels, etc.
The Gospels – today’s number is “4” – comprise four accounts of The Good News. Well, today, Rebekah and I have good news all over our house! It’s the good news of family, the good news of life. Naomi, Craig, David, and baby Rebekah.
coloring in a paper hat
(As I’m writing – of course – Rebekah is crying and David is throwing a two-year-old tantrum!)
But it’s the noise of life. Full volume; persistent; enthusiastic; grabby; impatient; interactive; beautiful.
The noise of life is: Full volume; Persistent; Enthusiastic; Grabby; Impatient; Interactive; Beautiful.
DAVID: My grandson is so two. We all know what that means! He’s a light-switch. one moment all, “Life is wonderful, I love everyone, and I’m completely happy;” and then, “You people are all rotten and unreasonable, so I’m going to lay here on the ground yelling and kicking my feet.”
And his parents are so patient. So. Patient.
BEKS: At six months the baby does primarily two things. One: stare at her grandaddy, then break out into a beautiful grin. Two: grab hold of her favorite rattle, then enthusiastically beat on me.
In medieval times they had what was called a “mace.” Beks uses her rattle the same way.
BEAUTIFUL: I use the word “beautiful” judiciously. I don’t want to throw words around carelessly, contributing to superlative inflation. But the word just fits so well. Beauty is – I believe – a glimpse into heaven. And if two small, exquisite samples of God’s creative glory could be anything other than beautiful, then I’m evidently theologically confused.
sometimes its all a bit too much for Scout
But I don’t think so.
You see, it’s life that is beautiful. We live in a world that is so fraught with pain and destruction and death and suffering; and then children tell a different story. And the story they tell is one of beauty and hope and promise.
That’s the Gospel, friends; that’s the Good News. Beauty, and Hope, and Promise.
Tantruming sometimes, yes; enthusiastically beating on me with a rattle, yes. Telling the truth about the Good News of God’s insistent commitment to New Life – absolutely.
BEKS: At six months the baby does primarily two things. One: stare at her grandaddy, then break out into a beautiful grin. Two: grab hold of her favorite rattle, then enthusiastically beat on me.
