best

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:14 KJV)

Usually the rule is: get dressed first then comes breakfast and stories. But it never fails, that when I give in on that rule, things go poorly.

Sam requested eggs and scrambled them. Priya cooked them. The eggs were hot so I let them eat first. Which they didn't eat until the eggs were lukewarm. Aware of the potential difficulties they usually have getting ready promptly, I wondered if they would promise to please get ready quickly after the story. Oh yes, they promised. And I read the story I promised I would read - sometime, not necessarily yesterday or today, but sometime this week. I read it today. I would keep the promise I made yesterday that I would read the book.

As if on cue, things turn south. The nerve-jarring mental game of coaxing them to dress their bodies. (That's a nice way of talking about nagging) If they fail to remove their stinky socks from the previous day, no one blames them at school. They look to the mother who didn't remind them. When they walk in without hats and gloves, they get pity and their mother gets the blame. So I coax and set deadlines and walk out the door and start the vehicle. They bellow at me from the door that they are missing this item or that. I didn't wear any of that last. But I am the mother and as a general rule, mother's need to have these things in order. Or at least have their children disciplined well enough to be able to put things away.

At least seven minutes later than it should have been, we left for school. Me lecturing about keeping my promise and reading them the story and them breaking theirs by wasting their minutes doing something other than getting dressed. They having the good sense to keep their  mouths shut.

The irony occurred to me shortly. Perhaps in my finite way, could I understand what God feels like. Without all my self ambition of course. Is it nearly sacrilege to describe this in that manner?

He gives His best. First a perfect gorgeous paradise. His humans gravitate to the ONE thing they should not do. He knows this and comes up with a long-range solution. After many years, He sends His best again: His only Son. As a peasant baby among the animals. To die the death only horrid perverse criminals are assigned to. Then nobody got it. He came to heal and restore and redeem. They were looking for heads to roll and a big display.

Now we still don't get it. Some are too fixated on preparations for a nice time. Shopping. Wrapping, Performances. Traditions. A few loud ones are busy kicking God in the teeth, burning themselves out obsessing about creches in public places and policing the words of well-wishers. Still more are just looking for a good chance to knock themselves out with one amusement or another and to have a day or two off of the daily grind.

The grace and mercy of the God of the Universe cannot be imagined by mortal minds.He keeps giving his best and we forget, get preoccupied, get straight-up belligerent to Him.  Whew! He still offers forgiveness and doesn't wipe us off the face of the planet.

Thankfully God has everything under control...unlike me. Perhaps- no for sure- He could help me with some motivation for something as small as getting ready for school. And oh how terribly grateful I stand that God always keeps His promises.