Funnel Trumpets

The other day a friend was helping me clean up after a meal and asked if I had a funnel. I chuckled as I reached to the back of the drawer where I keep them. Many times over the years I have looked at shiny new stainless steel funnels only to put them back on the shelf. Anyone else would have tossed my funnels years ago, but my heart is too attached to replace them. As soon as our babies were old enough to sit, they played at my feet while I worked in the kitchen. Measuring cups were nesting toys, my bread bowl and wooden spoon, a drum set. As they got older, jar rings were bangles and my plastic funnels, trumpets. My friend smiled as I handed her my disfigured funnel full of little chew marks. I can’t look at those funnels without a flood of memories. Little feet marching through the house tooting their funnel horns singing “Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus is coming again!” It seems like yesterday but now they are grown women and another baby plays with measuring cups at her mother’s feet. Where did the time go? That’s the funny thing about time. It can slip-up on you. Things that once seemed like they were in the distant future quickly turn into memories of a distant past.

As the children’s song echoes in my memory, my thoughts turn to world events.  Just like early labor signaled the soon arrival of our babies, likewise the signs are evident — Jesus is coming soon! Often I hear it said, “we’ve been saying that for years” and so we have. I have yet to hear an expectant mother in her last trimester say, “Its been such a long wait.  It will never happen.  There is no need to gather baby clothes and prepare a room.” Instead of hanging our heads in disappointment we should lift them high and loudly proclaim,  Jesus is coming again! “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promises… For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith…” Hebrews 10:23 & 11:37 & 38 NLT