I was speaking in Shreveport, Louisiana last Spring. The large room was beautifully decorated with round tables bedecked in white tablecloths and colorful spring flowers. Seated at the table directly in front of me was a group of women, and one little blond headed girl. I don’t know what the child’s mother told her daughter before we started, but I have an idea. Hold on, and you will too!
The crowd was particularly fun and engaged that day, which means I may have gotten stirred up into fine storytelling form before I shared God’s Word! All I know is, I had no sooner spoken the final word of my closing remarks when that sweet child pulled herself up to her full height, stuck her hand straight up in the air like you would if you wanted the teacher to call on you in class, and announced in a loud voice, “I need my prize!”
There was no mistaking what Sweet Thang meant. She had kept to her end of the bargain and she was ready to cash in on her bribe. Her mother was absolutely mortified and very apologetic, but the audience howled with laughter. For the record, I found it simply hilarious! I’ve always thought my audiences should get a prize for listening to me when I get all wound up, but that precocious child will go down on record as the first person who ever had the nerve to ask me for it!
Storytelling value aside, I tell you about that day to set up a larger point. Stories have a way of helping truth stick with us, and I want you to know that I’ve been that little girl before. I’ve held God’s own Words in my hands while checking off my daily Bible reading like I deserved a prize for good behavior. Ouch. It’s not fun to say such things out loud, but it’s worth it if one person hears what I’m about to say and draws closer to Christ this Easter season.
Here’s what I’ve learned. I don’t see Jesus simply because I open the Bible. I see Him when I’m intentionally waiting for Him and expecting Him to show Himself in the holy pages. I hear Him when I slow down to hear Him speak to me through its stories. I’ve tasted such moments and I now live for them. I want more and I don’t mean maybe. I tell Him so all the time. “You, Lord, have caused me to love You. You have given me a desire for Your Word. Increase this hunger in me. I want more of You.”
We don’t have to settle for reading the familiar story of Easter with eyes dimmed to the wonder. We can slow down and look the brutality of the Cross in the face, for the joy of seeing our Savior’s. As ironic as this may sound, Jesus is our insatiable satisfaction. The one who feasts on Him will soon discover that He is the prize.
Hugs,
Shellie
Shellie Rushing Tomlinson is an award-winning Louisiana author and humorist, a popular blogger and speaker, and host of the All Things Southern podcast. Her titles include Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On and Heart Wide Open. Her latest work Finding Deep & Wide helps us step away from the exhaustion we feel when living under a spiritual to-do list. By sharing honest, heartfelt, and often hilarious stories of family life in Louisiana, and retelling familiar Bible stories, Shellie helps us see the life Jesus offers us so freely. Connect with her at belleofallthingssouthern.com.
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