Sharing is a lesson for all ages, from toddler years to adulting. Think how often we hear an adult remind the littles, “Take turns with the toys! Take turns on the swing! Take turns on the scooter!”
The lesson is timeless: we all must learn to take turns. This Christmas Day, it was our turn to share the kids, who are being deeply and beautifully loved by other families. For that, we are incredibly grateful!
We are better relators when we practice the art of sharing those we love. The truth is, the people I love are not owned by me; they are God’s, first and foremost. Joyfully sharing them with other people, celebrating when they have new experiences and see other families’ way of doing things, is a part of growing to be a healthier lover of people. To do this, we have to guard ourselves from the dark demons of competition and comparison, lurking in the shadows, whispering lies to us about there being a scarcity of love. I am vulnerable to those devilish tauntings more than I care to admit. However, when I hear those murmurings, I stand firm to tell myself this phrase God gave me years ago, “Their gain is not my loss.”
There is NO scarcity. There is enough love, enough time, enough of me, enough of them, to share.
If the redemption story is anything, it is a story of being held deeply by a love that conquers all, including our desperation to cling to things and people with a death grip. Jesus came to show us what the love of God looks like lived out among us. This incarnational love is what we need to release our fearful fingers from clutching to our loved ones like they are our possessions.
Don’t get me wrong: I miss seeing our kids today! We are looking forward to gathering with them next weekend. In the meantime, you can find us here. There is nothing like an adventure in this beautiful world God gave us to settle me for some sacred slowing time.
I still have much work to do in this area of releasing and sharing. How about we all commit in this upcoming year to work on being better share-ers of what we love?
Oh, and Happy Camping Merry Shasta Christmas from us!
