I was just thinking........

I love New Years Eve.  It has traditionally been a quiet and purposeful time. After all the hubbub of Christmas we generally celebrate in a low key way with friends or simply spend quiet time, alone. We watch all the specials on TV, including Dick Clark and the Times Square ball dropping.  Then, there's all the after-parties that are televised.  It's great to be a snuggled up in pjs and watch all the fancy frocked folks ringing in the new year!

This year, because I got to work on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, there's no way we could do any real celebrating.  So, after falling asleep on the couch at 9pm and getting comfy under the covers by 10pm, at 12:05am I was quite rudely awoken by firecrackers, fireworks, horns and other noises that I couldn't identify.  Once I could process what was happening, I realized that Dennis had not yet come to bed (an unusual occurence) and I had only 5 hours left until my alarm went off!  As I lay there struggling to go back to sleep, I began thinking about how alive the world was at this traditional bewitching hour....and for about 30 minutes, there was more life in the outside world, than there had been during the daylight hours!  Then I got to thinking how awesome our world would be if we celebrated our Lord in such a way each day.  How exciting it would be to wake up to the singing of praises and the sights and sounds of firecreackers all blessing and honoring God.  How comforting to know that while I slept, there were keepers of the praise; that while I snoozed there were others taking the mantle and honoring God.  (Not that I'm so good at it...but I would hope my voice, my joy would be missed!)

So, then,  I was just thinking what it will be like in heaven. Streets of gold, pearls in the gates, beautiful gemstones everywhere, no darkness (that means no shadows!), mansions on every corner, angels everywhere. And Jesus as close as my thoughts! The anticipation makes my heart kinda flutter!  What a glorious way to start the new year.  Keep your eye on the prize my friends....its what gets us through...what sparks the hope and keeps the flame alive!