Friday, April 13, 2018

Spring Break, Part 2 - Seek Ye First


Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

It has been two years since my husband, Danny, and I have been able to host an Easter egg hunt for our granddaughters, due to the ordeal we experience last spring.  Virginia Rose, being seven now, recalls clearly her last egg hunt.


But her sisters, Savannah Jane and Alexandra Nancy, have no memory whatsoever, and have no clue as to what to expect.



We divide our back yard in half, one side for Virginia, where the eggs are strategically hidden, and the other for the two "littles," where the majority of eggs are in plain view, and ripe for the taking.  As their Dad, John, and I attempt to explain what the girls will be looking for once out in the yard, I have serious doubts about whether or not Savannah and Alexandra understand any of it, but I'm anxious to see if anything sinks in.

As soon as we open the downstairs door to the yard, Virginia is off like a shot, eager to explore her egg-stravagant territory. 





 But the "littles" are captivated by something entirely different.

"Bubbles!!!"  Savannah shouts gleefully.  Unbeknownst to me, Danny, aka Papa, has set up our bubble-making machine up on our deck, and it is cranking full tilt.  Showers of bubbles cascade down upon Savannah and Alexandra, as they chase and try to catch them.  I mean, who cares about Easter eggs when you can play with bubbles?





Just as Savannah and Alexandra are easily distracted by the glistening abundance of ephemeral bubbles, so we, too, can be tempted by the endless "Ooh, shiny!" things of this world.  Chasing after elusive, unsubstantial objects instead of seeking that which truly matters most in the here and now, and more importantly, for eternity:  the Kingdom of God.

Like Virginia, absolutely focused upon finding every last egg designed for her discovery, let us pursue God's Kingdom and His righteousness with that very same commitment, dedication and enthusiasm.

Amen!

23 comments:

  1. Bubbles out-rank eggs!

    But you're so right...we need real things, not bubbles. May we find ll our eggs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that should say all, not ll

      ;-)

      Delete
    2. Yes, Sandi, bubbles are fun, that's for sure, but we need the real things.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  2. A good lesson here at the end of your post, Martha. Thank you.

    In these materialistic times there are even more bubbles in the world to distract us.

    God bless you and your whole family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, Victor - too many bubbles! Lord, keep us focused on You . . .
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  3. Wow! who would have thought that bubbles could outrank the Easter Egg Hunt! Did they ever find any of their eggs? What an interesting twist...but like you said...that is how we tend to be in this world...captivated by the things that disappear into thin air when we try to grasp them in our hands...Lord, help us look for the real "eggs" that last and give us nourishment for our souls! Amen!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Pamela, we were finally able to coax them away from the bubbles and get them started finding eggs. And once they realized there were chocolates inside, then there was no stopping them. Lol!
      And yes, Lord, help us to seek those real eggs in our lives.
      Love and blessings!

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  4. May we all, like Virginia Rose, stick to the solid truths instead of swaying to and fro in search of transparent pleasure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen, Nells! Let us stick to the truth that never fails.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  5. Such beautiful photos and memories, Martha. :) The last two capture such joy. It pops into my heart - "The joy of the Lord is your strength!" Thank you for sharing. Love and hugs to you!

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    1. Yes, Trudy, those photos of Savannah certainly do exude sheer joy - I love them, too! Danny did a great job taking these pictures that we will treasure forever.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  6. What a great word picture/object lesson, Martha! Yes, we all need to have laser like focus, like Virginia, in our pursuit of God. It's all too easy to get distracted by the "bubbles" of life.

    Love and blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you liked the message of this post, Kim. Yes, we can become distracted all too easily. May God keep us focused on Him!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  7. Your photos bring me such joy!! love the life in their smiles.

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    1. I wish I could take credit for the photos, Jean, but the only one I took was of the Easter baskets; Danny took all the others. And yes, he captured the joy of the girls beautifully.
      Love and blessings!

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  8. Beautiful girls making wonderful memories! I love it! We had a wet rain/snow on Easter so our outdoor activities didn't happen. Thanks for sharing yours with us! Blessings!

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    Replies
    1. So sorry you were unable to enjoy Easter outdoors this year, Deb. Maybe next year! Glad you enjoyed the photos of the girls.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  9. Oh sweet, sweet. The eggs, the bubbles, the laughter, the joy, the memories. These are the good old days.

    And Jesus, Jesus. Right in the midst of our family celebrations. Beautiful, Martha ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, indeed, Linda, these definitely are the good old days. I'm so glad you enjoyed the photos - full of joy they are!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  10. Those girls are so cute. Love the analogy you got from bubbles and Easter eggs...that was God breathed. Blessings Martha. Hope all is well.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Betty, for your kind words here. Yes, God is so good, all the time!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete

. . . Good Tidings of Great Joy . . .

  . . . Good tidings of great joy . . . ~Luke 2:10 Pictured above are my daughter, Sarah, son-in-law, John, and their three girls, Virginia,...