Children

A Child’s Christmas

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Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,  “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.   Matthew 2:1-2 NLT

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As a part of focusing on the birth of Jesus at Christmas I have left one of the nativity scenes in a place where our grandchildren could reach it.  My theory was that they would understand Christmas better if they knew what a manger was and what shepherds might have looked like. So I carefully set up my old and semi-unbreakable manger scene so they could see all the characters.

Last week our home was filled with the activity of seven grandchildren, their parents and one family friend. The youngest had to be chased down two or three times to retrieve ornaments which he had stolen off the Christmas tree. Food, games and fun filled our day and we retired properly blessed and exhausted as they finally all drove off in the early evening.

A few days later when I was in my office I noticed that the children had indeed seen the nativity and had rearranged the figures. As I looked closer I realized that they understood the birth of Jesus in a way a bit different than we adults do. There gathered closely around the manger were Mary, Joseph, wise men and shepherds pressing in closely to see Jesus! Maybe it would be better if we adults turned our own backs to the many activities surrounding the celebration of the Christ child and instead pressed in closely to see Jesus!20171130_054228

A Treasure in a Field

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I almost mowed the lawn for the first time yesterday but when I saw the tiny wild flowers growing I decided to leave it for another day. The children next door saw them and sent their father to knock on our back door. They wanted to know if please they could dig a few to take home! Jesus said that the most valuable things in life are hidden but they can be found. Maybe we just need to have the hearts and eyes of children to see what really matters!KIMG1154“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44 NKJV

In the Beloved

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To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved             Ephesians 1:6

Suk* sat quietly in the front of the small church with just a worn carpet separating her from the dirt floor. The volunteer dental hygienist was explaining by use of a giant set of dentures how to brush her teeth. All the children laughed as he passed over the funny teeth with the large toothbrush. As he finished speaking their pastor helped to hand out a toothbrush and two pencils to each of the children. She tightly held her new prize possession for a moment then hid it beneath a corner of the rug to be sure no one would snatch it away as the program continued with a song that required her to clap her hands together.

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To us it was just a one dollar toothbrush, but to Suk the toothbrush meant that she was important. No westerner had ever come to her village. In fact almost no one from the outside world showed up for any reason except to carry away the bags and bags of tea leaves. The smallest of gifts meant to her that someone remembered, someone accepted and someone cared about her.

We have received a far more valuable and eternal gift in the love and forgiveness to be found in Jesus Christ. He came to our village from heaven and gave not just a toothbrush, but His own life for us. He knows all that we need and more importantly He has come so that no matter the value the outside world places on our life, we are loved remembered and accepted in the beloved – Jesus Christ.