I just ordered 100 copies of a bookmark from IBLP that lists the commands of Christ. I have been so blessed by that series, written 20 years ago. I had my kids memorize the commands and the correlating character quality during our Bible time .
If you love me, you’ll keep my commands. Jesus said this.
This is such a simple thought. What are the commands? Gothard went through the New Testament red letters and found 49 commands that Jesus gave that had significance for daily practical life. Because he was into character qualities he associated each command with a character quality. It makes a nice mnemonic device for children.
I think my kids still remember most of the commands, and I certainly do. They have wrought good in their spirits, I’m convinced.
Even when they stray from the straight and narrow path I have confidence that they will come back to these pure teachings.
Remember the Sabbath day.
This command reminds me that there are times of celebration, reflection, memorial, and circumstance.
Pomp and circumstance was used to welcome kings and dignitaries throughout history. When I watched an old movie with Cherie (and we have watched some interesting ones recently—“As You Like It” with Laurence Olivier, for one) I was impressed by the costumes and the sets depicting that bygone era. Though the movie was black and white you could see the opulence.
Today’s jeans and sweatshirts seem incredibly inferior to the beautiful robes and gowns of the past. Time was spent planning for events —sometimes for years. Officials were hired to make festivals and ceremonies, drapery and costume. Feasts were special.
People need feasts to mark time. People need ceremony to mark events. People need celebration and remembrance. God ordained many feasts throughout the year. Each has a prophetic significance that still edifies.
Being inclined to introversion I have carefully planned my events in life. I remember my commissioning to mission work. That was important to me, as was my baptism up in Canada as a sixteen year old. My wedding was a months-long planning delight.
All of my kids had a baby dedication ceremony except for Cherie, who was born at a time of church hopping for our family. Brian and I dedicated her to the Lord ourselves, without the congregation.
Congregations are not just witnesses to the events. They are partakers. They are supposed to give their consent to helping the proceedings of the ceremony!
Did you realize that?
At a baby dedication you are saying that you will be a part of the child’s upbringing and education in spiritual things. You are “the village” that Hillary Clinton made famous.
When you attend a wedding you are saying, by your presence, that you are there to support and give aide to the marriage. You will affirm it. You will be a pillar of strength for the two that have covenanted before God to be together for life. Since God ordained marriage there is significance to the role of families and witnesses at weddings. Families are supposed to take part in the proceedings. They lend strength to the covenant that is being sworn.
When you have a ceremony you are marking something important.
I have two ceremonies that I missed this past year, my husband’s funeral, and my daughter’s wedding. The first because of Covid-19, the second because of discord.
As I think back over the year I grieve. I’ll be honest: my life has been extraordinarily difficult since my brother’s death in October 2019.
Normal has left the building.
This journey has been marked by devastating swamps and pits of despair. Why, God?
I navigate the waters of mental illness with Ed, and now others.
(Ed is doing far beyond what anyone could ever hope for! He is a delight and a joy, and understands the ramifications of his situation. God be praised.)
We had a time of remembrance for Brian in October 2020, but as I look back at the crush of grief and processing of his loss in a time of plandemic I realize how much was missed, and I regret.
I regret the things I overlooked.
I regret the things that I forgot.
I regret.
Brian is rejoicing with Jesus and those who have gone on before and since. He has no regret.
But I do. I see how the lack of ceremony at his death cheapened the circumstances of life.
Did Covid-19 do this to us? Did the rules of society tear away the precious value of life and death? Of ceremony?
Do we value life?
I confess that I have made a serious mistake. I have not taught the value of ceremony to my children. I regret that.
I repent.
What’s done is done. It’s water under the bridge. It’s irretrievable. Time goes on.
May the Lord forgive us where we have failed.
My husband is safe in the arms of the Lord, but we are still surging through the deeps of life. I need to impress those that I love with the importance of ceremony and circumstance.
I have learned a hard lesson.
Perhaps someone else can learn from my mistake.
Perhaps Jesus comes today. What a ceremony of bridal significance commences at that event!
Maranatha!