Reverence

Reverence

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7

While paging through the morning newspaper several Decembers ago, I stopped to read an irreverent article titled “Nativity Spoof in Need of Seasonal Forgiveness.” To say that I was saddened by the article would be much too mild. Here’s an excerpt:

“We hope God has a sense of humor,” declares the program to The Madonna in Spite of Herself, Corn Production’s new late-night musical Nativity spoof, “or else we’re in a lot of trouble.” No kidding. Given that this fringe Chicago troupe translates [the Virgin] Mary into a big-haired gum-chomping resident of Berwyn, Joseph (a.k.a. Joey) into a genial sexual predator, and the Angel Gabriel into a screaming vamp in a hot outfit, the youthful satirists at Corn Productions had better hope for some Christian forgiveness and seasonal goodwill. Otherwise, they’ll have a lot more to worry about than lumps of coal in their collective stockings.^a

After reading the depressing article, I wondered what the people involved in the production had learned as children about the birth of Christ. Had they heard Luke 2 read at home with reverence? Had they been part of a loving body of believers where the account of Jesus’ birth was portrayed respectfully? Had they ever had the chance to sense, deep in their souls, the beauty of the greatest story ever told?

What a great opportunity we moms have, while our children are living in our home, to sow seeds of respect for God and his Word.

Father,

Sometimes we are jolted by irreverent things we see or read, and we remember that the way we think of you is not to be taken lightly. What we think about you affects the way we live. We want to show you great reverence, and by our examples and words we want to encourage our children to reverence you. Amen.