Playful Holidays

Holidays remind us about thankfulness, about charity, about the truth of God, about community and about turkey, ham, chili and eggnog.  Well...maybe holidays aren't about all those things, some of them are adjectives of the reality. But Holidays are about something.  

I saw a mother play with her son on Friday night at a church Christmas gathering. I loved hearing the music and listening to the story of Christ's birth being told from beginning to end. And I loved that a mother would stick her tongue out at her boy in playful petulance.  He laughed and so did she.

A family that plays together.  Never does that take away from responsibility, work or earning potential. Sometimes you sweat, sometimes you argue, sometimes families endure strain.  But you can tell a successful and safe family when you watch them play.  A son's flung tongue greeted by his mother's laughter reveals safety.  I'm part of a great, playful and safe family.  More importantly, I am part of another safe but even greater, wider, joyful, and much larger family--otherwise known as the body of Christ--Read John 10. 

There's a difference between desperate faith and confident faith.  Confident faith is a communal faith.  Have you seen us play?  I get safety.  I know hope.

I found a safe lad and a safe mom Friday night.