With Me

Eva, dancing with enthusiasm, eyes bright, wondered, repeatedly, "Mamsie, when are we going to have date time?" I had been scheduling time with each one down the line, for Mamsie-time. Her brother, the next one in line, hadn't had his turn yet. Eva, she kept insisting, to have her turn. With me.

I had looked at my calendar. Pondered how I could squeeze her brother in. Meanwhile, she kept dancing, with anticipation.  

I finally gave up.

And made plans to spend a special time with her. Before her brother. I couldn't stand dampening such enthusiasm. She was so insistent. Persistent in her efforts to be with me.

Of course we had a delightful time together. She simply glowed with happiness.  Her heart's desire had been fulfilled.  Mamsie, with her.

As I read the Christmas story, marking any verse that described God, I slammed into this verse: "......and they will call Him Immanuel, which means, 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:23

Then I knew. It wasn't that God was hanging around like paper on a wall, waiting to be noticed. Jesus coming, in the flesh, was Eva, bobbing up and down with joy. It was God, anticipating time with us. His eyes glowing with excitement, Him repeatedly asking, "When? When can I be with you? I just want to be with you!"

"God with us", is a matter of God pursuing us earnestly.  

Just imagine, God, in all His glory, dancing with anticipation. To be with me. To be with you.

He longs, desperately. To be with. Us.

That's Immanuel.

Humbling, isn't it?