From the Mouths of Children
If you are a parent or grandparent, I’m sure you too have learned some valuable lessons from the mouths of the children in your life. They can utter the most amazing comments that speak to our heart. Priceless keepsakes to store in our memory bank. How we thank God for His gift of children–whom Jesus treasures too.
About midmorning I heard a light knock at my door and “Home? Home? Anyone home?”
I went to answer. and there stood my 20-month-old grandson Benjamin with a big grin on his face. I was home that Sunday morning because I had attended Saturday night church services–not something I did regularly.
I was startled to see him standing there. He had run away from his own home. He knew his grandmother’s arms would be waiting, and he was lonesome for me.
Safe. Sound. Secure. Food. Fun. Hugs. Cheers.
But he had crossed the street alone and it concerned me. How glad I was that I was home to hold him and call his mom to report that I had her run-away child.
Once when he was a bit older, I had just gotten home from a week-long speaking engagement when his mom dropped him off at our house. He followed me from room to room while I unpacked and headed to the utility room to wash my dirty clothes. Suddenly I felt Benjamin’s little hand tug on my skirt, trying to grab my undivided attention.
“Sit down, Mama Quin. I’ve come to keep you company,” he said in a boisterous plea.
We plopped down on the blue couch in the den and he snuggled under my arm, while we watched his favorite “Veggie Tales” video. Then I read to him from some “Thomas The Train” books. Clothes could be washed another time. Unpacking could wait. This child–my precious grandchild–had come to keep me company!
One Christmastime, five of my young grandchildren were helping me decorate. They had put together the olive wood nativity set– the creche– but the figure representing the baby Jesus was lost somewhere among the decorations. They searched for some time but could not find the tiny missing baby.
The three-year old grandson went throughout the house calling out, “Jesus, where are you? Come back to our house. Come back to our house to stay.” His words echoed in my heart throughout that Christmas season. A child had pleaded what was important to him and to me. “Come. Come stay.”
While Jesus is not physically on earth now, when he departed for heaven, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to abide with His followers — never to leave or forsake us. Don’t we want to remain open for Him to abide in our lives and home at all times?
Listen to a modern Bible translation of an event when people brought their small children to Jesus so that He might lay His hands on them to bless them.
“Jesus called for the parents, the children, and his disciples to come and listen to him. Then he told them, ‘Never hinder a child from coming to me but let them all come, for God’s kingdom belongs to them as much as it does to anyone else. These children demonstrate to you what faith is all about.’” (Luke 18:15-16 TPT)
So, let’s go be about the Father’s business and bless those youngsters He puts in our life!
Framed on my Grandmother Wall of photos:
“One Hundred years from now it will not matter what your bank account held, the sort of home you lived in, or the kind of car you drove. But the world may be a different place because you were important in the life of a child.” (Author unknown).
Scripture: Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD. The fruit of the womb is a reward… Yes, may you see your children’s children. (Psalm 127: 3; 128:6 NKJV)
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ to live and die for us, and for sending the Holy Spirit to guide and help us now that Jesus is in heaven with You. Thank You too for our little ones who can talk to You with such faith and hope. Help me as a follower of Jesus Christ be a good example to them. I pray in His name, Amen.
Footnote:Selections from my book, Prayers From A Grandma’s Heart,( Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Ispirio, 2002).
Comments (0)