An End-of-the-Year Stacking Challenge

 An End-of-the-Year

Stacking Challenge

"Take delight in the LORD, 

and he will give you the desires of your heart." ~Psalm 37:4

We all probably have a history with the traditional stacking toy. These multi-colored rings layered onto a single-peg base have challenged and entertained toddlers for generations. A surprising spiritual lesson can be learned through this basic, educational toy. 

We know the process. Dump the rings out, and then sit back and enjoy the scene as our young one takes on the challenge of correctly stacking the colorful rings. Is there a right way? At first, the child doesn't think so. The goal appears to just be to put the ring--any ring--around the peg. 

It isn't until time has passed and several rings are successfully resting on the peg that the realization sets in that some of the rings will now not fit. Something isn't right. In order to complete the challenge, something needs correcting. 

What does this have to do with being a Christian? 

What does this have to do with an end-of-the-year challenge? 

Just as the toddler must take a moment from the action of stacking rings in order to have the realization that one or more of the rings isn't stacked correctly, so must we as Christians take a look at whether we are stacking our own priorities correctly. 

Trust me, this challenge is not as easy at it may look. Of course, I have gotten the order wrong at numerous points in my life. I have been so out of whack and wobbly that I couldn't fit most of the items on the peg. I whined in frustration and ranted in anger as I tried desperately in my own power to make those little rings fit into what I felt was the proper order in my life. I huffed and puffed and tried to force all that I wanted to do onto the peg of my day, only to wind up panting and frustrated with each of those little, colorful rings cluttered around me.

I don't think I am alone in failing at the stacking challenge of life. 

I have learned. I have learned through the frustrations and the mistakes. Here is the key to the current order of my stacking rings. 

"Delight yourself in the LORD..." "You shall have no other gods..."

God is first. I believe in God Almighty.

 I believe in Jesus Christ. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit. 

Once that foundational ring is placed, I have a strong foundation. I can build from there. 

Next, I am a unique woman, and I experience life through this perspective. I have contributions to offer this world based upon this view. 

I am a wife. My husband and I have had over 31 years worth of adventures together. 

I am a mom. One of the blessings of my life has been to be a mom to four amazing individuals. While they are no longer "children" and have grown to be outstanding adults, they will always be my joy and my "babies."

I am a teacher. God has blessed me with a strong desire to be a teacher. I love being in the classroom, and I love learning. I love guiding people to wisdom and to a better future. 

I love to serve others. I love to help and to give. God has given me a heart to serve. 

Those are the priority rings in my life right now. 

Of course, your rings can look different than mine. 

Of course, there are other rings: friend, daughter, sister, aunt, etc. 

God, being the first ring, will guide each of us in stacking the rings. The best part is that He will even reward us for our faithfulness. 

"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." This verse is true in that when we take delight in the LORD, the desires of our hearts change. Yes, the labels on the rings change. Those priorities that we once thought MUST fit into and fill our days, may just diminish from our lives if they were not part of who we were supposed to be in the first place. 

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." ~I Corinthians 10:31

So, let's each end this year with the stacking challenge. May we each be delighted with the results. 

Almighty God, 

We praise You! Thank You for bringing us to the end of this year. As we look ahead to next year, we surrender to You. We submit to Your Will for each of our lives. We want to delight ourselves in You, Lord God. We want to know You better. We want to serve You better. Forgive us our sins. Forgive us our selfishness. Guide us in stacking our priorities that we each might glorify You in our words and in our actions. In Jesus' Name. Amen.