Sketchy Santa: lesson learned

It all started just before Christmas. Expectations shattered, that is. We had taken the kids to get pictures with our local Santa who, by the way, speaks with a serious southern drawl and looks,...hmmm, not sure,...like he's either very tired or somewhat tipsy (if you need a good laugh clarification, just go HERE and I'm sure you'll come away with a better understanding of our own sketchy Santa.)

So we waited in line for over 30 minutes for our chance at slapping down $15 for a single 5x7 photo (sheesh, apparently Santa's working the poor enconomy as well), and finally it was our turn. The kids briefed Santa on their wants of the moment (which were changing just about hourly at that point in the season). Santa then directed them to choose a candy cane from the box next to him. Brandon, age 3, had a puzzled look on his face.

"Go on, baby. Choose a candy cane."
(heard behind me: "Hey Santa, can I have two?" Heard from my own voicebox: "Hey Reece, don't ask Santa for more than you're supposed to get." Santa accomodated Reece's request, no doubt to move my pack along.)

Next thing I know, Brandon is taking a candy cane while pouting and clearly holding back tears.

As we walked outside into the artic-like winter winds, he began to cry.
"Baby, what's the matter? Didn't you like Santa?"
"Yes." (pout, sniffle)
"Don't you like candy canes? Santa even let you take two."
"Yes." (pout, sniffle)
"Then,...why are you crying?"
"Santa din't gib me a heweecoptoo an' a aiw-pwane."

Ahhhh, I get it now.
Brandon had seen Santa (the "one and only" Santa as far as his 3 year old mind was concerned) when we visited our Children's Museum a few weeks earlier. He had told Santa of his wish to get an airplane and a helicopter.
So as far as Brandon was concerned, the "order" had been placed.
In his little mind, we were going to see Santa again for one reason and one reason only.
To pick up his gifts.
The photo op was merely a formality. Where were the gifts?
Sketchy Santa failed to deliver. Brandon was highly disappointed.
Carl had to get down to eye level and explain in 3 year old terms that NO, Santa did not forget what Brandon had asked for. And NO, Santa did not provide token candycanes in lieu of Brandon's wish list. It's just that Brandon was too small to see the bigger picture.

Brandon felt forgotten by Santa. Haven't you ever felt like that? Like God doesn't hear you, that He isn't answering your prayerful pleas? I am vividly reminded of Psalm 77, where the psalmist is clearly traveling through one of life's darkest valleys.
He is tired.
He is definitely frustrated.
He feels so very, very alone.
And he isn't holding back as he pours out his troubled heart to God.

He mentions a sense of abandonment in verse 2. He also seems to lash out at God in desperate frustration in verses 3 and 4, going so far as to say that remembering God makes him tearful and unable to rest. Honestly, haven't you ever felt like that? I know I have.

But I love that Psalm 77 doesn't end with a burdened soul who cannot cope. To me, it's a message from God of tremendous encouragement. He wants me to know that He has not forgotten me, nor foresaken me (Heb 13:5). And He demonstrates this in Psalm 77 through the response of the psalmist to God's seeming silence, beginning in verse 10.

How?

Simply by recalling all the times in his life (or in the past) when God was there, when His hand did become evident, when it became clear that He in fact heard and was answering prayer, perhaps even when the psalmist didn't realize He was at work (my thoughts there.)

And like Brandon, sometimes we also are just too small to see the big picture. But it doesn't mean that it isn't being painted or even already finished. God is already there, at the end of each struggle we face. He knows how it will all work out. He does hear us.

The next time you're struggling to feel Him in your circumstances, why not meditate on the great things He has done?
Recall how He revealed Himself to you in times past, and draw on the knowledge that He was there then and is still there now.
Always listening.
Always working.
Always ready to provide His feet as a place where your burdens can be laid down.

Remember that.

And don't hesitate to meditate on the words of Psalm 77 when life blows in around you with gale force.

I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah

4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.

5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;

6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:

7 "Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?

8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?

9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah

10 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

12 I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.

13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?

14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.

15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah

16 The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.

17 The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.

18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.

19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Toni