There’s a family of Canadian geese that have residence in the lake behind our home. I never weary of watching them or they me, for that matter! When I’m hanging up laundry the entire goose clan glides over to float and gaze. It makes me smile. I am also intrigued by the formation of the goose family when they are swimming: parent leading, offspring in a row, parent bringing up the rear. And they swim calmly to and from their destination. There is serenity in the order.

Our little ones are not quite as compliant as those goslings when it comes to routine in and out of the house. We frequently meet with resistance as we instruct them in etiquette and attitude. But they do know who their authority figures are and, even more importantly, they are secure enough in their relationship with us to be authentic. Their emotions are never hidden from us: anger, jubilation, fear, hurt, gratitude…whatever they are feeling overflows unashamedly. And the questions they pose! Those come with zero filter. If they don’t know or understand something, they simply ask. If they would like something, they ask. If they can’t remember, they ask. There is serenity in authentic relationship.

And it always brings me back to Jesus. I realize that I hide many of my true feelings from Him. When anxiety overpowers, I try to reason with it, fight it, or ignore it on my own rather than simply talking it all out with Jesus. I hesitate to bring requests to Him because they either seem too insignificant or too impossible; if I don’t understand something I wrestle with it on my own rather than coming to Him for clarity. But as I wait and wait and wait on this Baby I am coming to the end of myself and God is prompting me to let go of myself and go deeper with Him. He reminds me that I can calmly follow Him and be raw at the same time. He wants me to acknowledge that He knows the true me; I don’t have to hide from Him. There is serenity in letting go.