Tell me

Hallmark commercials are the best, aren't they...  you just better have the tissue box handy.  I recently was struck by one of their commercials that I would title, "Tell me".  Various people of various ages spoke one sentence that began with "Tell me". 

The statements included these:
Tell me you appreciate all the things I do...
Tell me I bring out the best in you...
Tell me that you are thankful..
Tell me that it won't be the same without me..
Tell me that you love me... even if you say it every day...

Wow, wouldn't you love/long to hear any of those statements.  The producer of that commercial, of course, hopes that we will need a little help in the "telling" and buy the perfect card, and sometimes we do need help!

When Clay was a preschooler he and I spent much time in the car.  With three girls involved in high school, middle school and elementary sports, school activities, and church events, the car became our world.  Without exception when I buckled Clay into his seat and before I could even buckle into mine, his request was always the same... "Tell me a story, Mommy!"  Many of you would chuckle and say, "Wow Susan, that is your favorite thing to do", and you would be absolutely correct.

Clay loved family stories, but his favorite were Bible stories, mostly Old Testament stories.  So many of those stories offered intrigue, mystery, and such adventure.  Think about it.. the flood, all the plagues and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and that mean 'ole pharaoh, the crashing walls of Jericho, the fiery furnace, the lions' den, David and Goliath, Samson and his strength...  The list goes on and on.  If I left out a detail he had previously heard, he corrected me.  For an extremely active little boy, he was captivated by a good story (probably didn't hurt that he was securely strapped in)!

Our technologically savvy society is stacked with numerous devices and options of communication.  I could begin a list, but I would likely misspell and leave out many of them.  You know! 

What I believe is that people still prefer to hear from a real person sitting across the table or at least in the same room.  Revealing "something", whether the information of boy/girl with an expectant family, a recent proposal of marriage, an elaborate announcement of a new album or movie, has become the creative challenge for so many.  I have noticed, though, that the "reveal" does involve, no matter how elaborate, people... usually face to face!

Oh sweet friends, we have the best news... and the best opportunity during this time of year to share it...

When Gabriel brought these words to Zachariah (father to John, the Baptist),  “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news."  Zachariah's news was that he would have a son, John.

Then to the shepherds.. the angel said, "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." 

While doing some shopping yesterday, I began to just study the faces of people I saw.... you could probably agree that in your recent shopping experiences, folks aren't showing much joy.

So our simple challenge for this week, show THE JOY!!!  If we truly believe Jesus Christ is the good news, the best news, let's show the world... then let's tell them!