I had not realized how much preparation and planning ahead of time it took to get ready for a date out when kids are in the picture.
Jumping in the shower, washing my hair, DRYING my hair, styling it, doing my make up, picking out an outfit, trying on several before finally landing on one, all in between a few naps, baby feeds, diaper changes and play time requires some scheduling if we’re going to make it anywhere on time and if I want to look put together.
Simply “going on the fly” like I’d done for so long just isn’t it anymore. No, now it takes planning the “sessions” starting the day before, AT LEAST.
I was having all these thoughts as I was spraying all the volume products in my tresses and then it hit me.
“Do I prepare this extensively and with this much anticipation for my King’s return?”
I don’t write these words from a place where my answer is always “yes”.
Frankly, I felt very convicted about it because ever since having had my baby, it’s felt like having to fight for any time with the Lord. Everything that used to fight for my attention and distraction is suddenly heightened.
My quiet times aren’t so quiet anymore and they are not easy to come by. But I realize there is an intentionality that needs to take place or it just won’t happen. Just as in marriage, a great one won’t develop by chance but by deliberate choice, the same is true of my spiritual posture.
No one of us knows the date of Jesus’ coming but do our choices, our relationship (or lack thereof), our beliefs, our time with Him, our speech, our worlds show a readiness for it?
How will He find me?
Stressed, frazzled and a mind in disarray?
Or at peace, with joyful expectation and garments of celebration?
May He find us all eager for His arrival and lovely before Him.
//“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.//
Matthew 25:1-13 NIV
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