One of the highlights of our recent vacation was our visit to my brother Michael’s home. On one wall of his living room, Mike has pictures of family ancestors, his family on one side and his wife, Mary Ann’s, family on the other. It’s a touching display of the importance of recognizing our heritage.
The display includes a picture of my Dad’s mother. We called her Mama Beam. She was a devoted Catholic of the old school. When the church went to the English in the mass, she ignored that and would say her Rosary during the ceremony.
She was an avid card player. She had a group of friends she played with, as I recall, daily. During lent she would “give up” card playing. No one wanted to visit Mama Beam during lent because she missed her card playing and it showed up in her disposition.
I remember trying to “give up” things like spinach or homework. I guess I didn’t get the idea.
The concept of “giving up” things or making a sacrifice for God is an ancient one. Over the centuries the concept has gotten confused. If you ask someone making such a sacrifice today the reason for their actions, you would likely get a variety of answers.
Today OC deals with a famous biblical example of “giving up” something for God.
Genesis 22:9-10 (New International Version)
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
We are familiar with the story. We know that God intervened. God didn’t want Isaac as a sacrifice. He wanted to know that Abraham placed Him above all the gifts He had given him.
We may never know if Mama Beam had the right idea or not. The important thing is not the “giving up” but the “making room” in our lives for Him. All things belong to our King. He makes them available for us knowing the possibility that we will place more importance on the gift than the Giver. Our job is to be vigilant in our lives for anything that takes the place of the Lord. Once identified we need to remove it if that’s what it takes to place Him back in the Number One Place.
By “giving up” the distractions in our lives, we are left with a life that is a living sacrifice to God our Maker.
I miss Mama Beam. Did I mention she made great fudge? My every contact with her was a blessing. I guess she probably did get it right after all.
Sweep out some “card playing” from your life and Be blessed.
Nick
I like to tell my babies in Sunday school of distractions of a different type and those are the ones that keep them from learning to be better Christians. “Who do you think wants you to place your attention elsewhere rather than on your Bible lessons?” I ask. Then I ask them what they think the devil looks like and we make a list on the board. “Well, if he’s so easily recognizable, you should be able to see him from a block away. So what would you do if you saw him coming from a block away?” They give me another list. Then I drop the bomb: AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY HE DOESN’T COME IN THAT SCARY FORM YOU’D RECOGNIZE. He comes in attractive packaging with the purpose of being distracting. I think I’ll write this in my blog today!