Nothing to worry about.

I try to work out a couple of times a week. This involves heading downstairs after we tuck the kiddos into bed. Kristyn usually passes out, as she's so tired from school she barely makes it to bedtime. Emy gets rocked a bit, and is in a place where she'll either fall asleep in our arms or we'll lay her down and she drifts off. Brady is another story. The boy takes forever to calm down at night...

So here is the routine. I come downstairs, put on my shoes, and get ready to exercise. Before long, i hear little feet go 'thump thump thump' down the hall, through the living room and kitchen, and stop at the top of the stairs. He'll stand at the steps and wait for me to come and take him back to bed. I'll tuck him in, give him kisses again, and tell him to stay put. Brady usually asks if I'm going back down, and how long I'll be there. I think his thing is that he just wants to be sure that we are going to be there, that we aren't going to leave. So we are sure to tell him that we are just downstairs, and that even though he can't see us, we are still there and that he's got nothing to worry about.

I love the promise that Jesus makes at the end of Matthew -- after telling the disciples that it's thier job to go and share the good news, He tells that He will be with them always, to the very end of the age. In fact, that is a promise that God has kept throughout humanity's history -- that we may not be able to see Him, but He is always there. And how cool is the Advent/Christmas season -- it is the one time of the year that we are surrounded by things that intended to remind us of His presence among us. Look around your house -- the decorations, the songs on the radio, the shows on tv...our lives are filled with stuff that is supposed to give us pause and point us to God.

So: ask the kids -- what is one thing that reminds them of God's presence? How about you?

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20