Most young children make no secret of their passions. Whether it’s puzzles, trains, dolls, or coloring books, once they settle on something, it’s what they want to do ‘round the clock.
Emerald, for whom I’m a nanny here in Hawaii, has been consistent in her passion for several things. Bubbles have fascinated her since she was a baby, and we’ve enjoyed blowing them every day of her life. Then, for at least a year, Disney princesses have been added – 14 of them — and she knows which gown belongs on who and which crown.
A third, long-term passion has been fish. A trip to Chicago’s Aquarium was a dream adventure, and Emerald never tires of studying a fish’s movements. “Did you see that? What’s he doin’ over there?” Louisa and Teddy are caring for her betta fish, Jason, while she’s in Hawaii.
We adults have passions, too, and often they’re consistent through our lives. When we look into the Bible and study the life of Jesus, we see he had a passion that never varied – start to finish. It was to do whatever his Father told him to do.
In John 14:31 he summarized his passion. “I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” Most of us would say we love the Father, too, but can we say we do “exactly what he commands?” If we do some of the things he commands, does that qualify as a passion?
Watching Emerald pursue her passions has challenged me to be more passionate about pursuing the Lord. Over the weekend, a group of us visited a fancy shopping mall here in Kona and were treated to an object lesson of what passion-in-action looks like.
We took Emerald to a fish pond full of Japanese koi fish. The minute she saw them, her right hand flew up and down with enthusiasm, and her face became bright with joy. Her mouth opened in awe, and she never tired of interacting with them – throwing ice chips into the water to get them to move, exclaiming over their colors, commenting about their movements, guessing at what they were thinking. She only turned away when we insisted it was time.
How does Emerald’s passion for fish compare with my desire for more of the Lord? Am I enthusiastic about connecting with him whenever I can? Is my joy evident when I talk about him? Am I in awe of what he’s done and will do? Do I love him so much I never tire of him?
The real question is, can I even call my relationship with him a passion? And if not, what’s holding me back?
Jesus said, “I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.” (John 8:28)
Thank you once again! It never grows old to be challenged to be passionate about my relationship with the One who gave all to me!
Great thoughts, Margaret. Makes me evaluate where my true passion really is! I say “Jesus,” but do my actions show it?
Margaret, you are such a good story teller. I can just see little Emerald’s hand flying up and down in her excitement I love when your blog posts include your grandchildren, partly because I do not have grandchildren, but also by weaving in stories of your grandchildren you are reminding us of Matthew 18:3 where Jesus says ” Unless we become like little children”. Children just by their actions and words can point us back to Christ. So glad to be receiving your posts again
Yes! This post is exactly what God is showing me too…be passionate about ME! Seek ME FIRST. Be in awe of ME. Thank you for sharing, Nanny Margaret!
After my husband’s diagnosis of stage four cancer in February 2014 I felt a numbness within my soul. Since his death in November of the same year, I have struggled with this burning within my emotions that I can only compare to something being being ripped from my physical body. It finally lifted about two months ago. Since then, I have felt numb toward everything. I just recently prayed for a new passion…. Thank you for sharing!