It was Christmas Eve and my sweetheart, Johnnie, called for on an unexpected date. Though I had much to do I immediately said yes. We were going to the museum, the same one from our first date. I wondered with excitement if he was planning to propose.

At the museum, we walked the exhibit halls and at every pause I waited for him to pop the question… I have no idea what treasures I missed out on that day because all I can remember is watching him like a hawk… As we ate dinner at Vietopia, also a first date memory, I was on pins and needles in anticipation.

As time passed… and passed… and passed some more, I realized it wasn’t going to happen. I exhaled… let go of my expectation and decided to enjoy what was left of our time together and my delicious Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio.

As we were about to leave, my jaw dropped and tears came to my eyes as Johnnie got down on one knee, pulled a ring out of his pocket and smiled that gorgeous smile. He told me how he wanted to recreate our first date to ask me to marry him and then he took a deep breath.

And in that moment, even before he could even ask, I eagerly said, “Yes!” The answer was easy!  I had been planning to say, “yes,” the whole night.

As I reflect back on that moment, I wonder what life would be like if I also planned to say yes to God with the same expectancy and hopefulness.

The Lord invites us to do many things in our relationship with him … while I wish it weren’t so, sometimes I don’t have an eager yes at the ready….  maybe you can relate.

But what joy, hope, love and peace … what closeness to God might we enjoy on this faith journey if we would be more open, eager and even excited to say “Yes!” to those unexpected Divine proposals?

This Christmas season my prayer for us is that as we grow closer to God, we would be all the more eager to say yes in every season of our lives.

Yes and Amen.

For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason, it is through him that we say the Amen to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20 NSRV

Rev. Lataya Simpson is the Associate Pastor at Bellaire United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. If you are ever in the area, Lataya and the rest of the staff and congregation would love to have you come worship with them for worship anytime. For details, please visit their website above.

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