Going Through the Motions

by Lydia Floren

Greeting cards are a part of our family’s birthday tradition. As a “good husband,” Andrew knows this. And since he is not a homemade card kind of guy, every year he faithfully buys me, and gives me, a few cards –  most funny, and, at least one is serious.

One year,  I was particularly touched by the sweet sentiment in the “serious” card he gave me.

“Oh, Honey! That is beautiful. Thank you!”  With a tear in my eye, I glanced up at him.

He had this blank look on his face. And, I got a little suspicious. 

“Did you read it?” I asked.  (His signature was at the bottom, so it would seem like a natural assumption that he had.)

His expression turned sheepish.

“Really? You gave me a card, but you didn’t even read it?”

“Well I glanced at it. It looked like something you would like.”

At first I was hurt. And then, I burst out laughing. 

The next year, when I opened “the mushy birthday card” not only was his signature at the bottom, but there was a little “p.s.”  afterwards: 

“Yes, I read it.”

How often do we glance at God’s word, but don’t take the time to really read it? Or, we say a perfunctory  prayer, but our minds are wandering elsewhere? When we do, we aren’t fooling anyone but ourselves. And, we miss out. Our relationship with God is the most important relationship in the world. If we truly believe that, committing our full attention every day to a verse or two in the Bible – and listening to what He might be saying to us through it – is time well spent. 

Have you been going through the motions of spending time with God? If so, don’t miss out another day. Take some time. Give Him your undivided attention. It will bless your socks off. Do it regularly, and it will  change your life. 

“You have the words of eternal life.”  John 6:68

“For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and
the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God.”  2 Peter 3:5

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”  Psalm 119:105