A Child Reminds us of Christmas Peace
A writer friend of mine has a blog that you should check out for a couple of those heartwarming kinds of stories that she's posted the past few days. http://www.janetelainesmith.blogspot.com/
What got me to thinking was this little tidbit at the end of one post about the stuffed animals that populate the creche under her Christmas tree. A neighbor boy, a mere 10 years of age, went to her house and elected to put a couple of stuffed lions next to the stuffed lamb by the baby Jesus. Not such a moving thought, eh? But then this 10-year-old child quoted a Bible passage to her to explain his actions.
Stop for a minute.
How many 10-year-old children do you know who can just lay down a quote out of Isaiah or Revelation? I used to be the VBS director at my church back home every summer and it was like pulling teeth to get some of those kids to memorize their Bible verses each evening. (And, really, maybe I don't have the right attitude, but I figure, as long as the kid has the Bible open and is reading it, the Holy Spirit is going to work there...memorization not mandatory.) Heck, I went through a Bible study program in which we were supposed to memorize a verse each week and I failed miserably! As an adult! With motivation!
So I looked at the post on Janet's blog for a good long while and I thought about this child for a good long while...and I realized...these kids will surprise you at any time of year, but I particularly liked this one's surprise at this time of year.
So here's my verse for you guys to think on, because this is just as good a time of year as any for peaceful thoughts. "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." -- Luke 2:76-79
"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
A writer friend of mine has a blog that you should check out for a couple of those heartwarming kinds of stories that she's posted the past few days. http://www.janetelainesmith.blogspot.com/
What got me to thinking was this little tidbit at the end of one post about the stuffed animals that populate the creche under her Christmas tree. A neighbor boy, a mere 10 years of age, went to her house and elected to put a couple of stuffed lions next to the stuffed lamb by the baby Jesus. Not such a moving thought, eh? But then this 10-year-old child quoted a Bible passage to her to explain his actions.
Stop for a minute.
How many 10-year-old children do you know who can just lay down a quote out of Isaiah or Revelation? I used to be the VBS director at my church back home every summer and it was like pulling teeth to get some of those kids to memorize their Bible verses each evening. (And, really, maybe I don't have the right attitude, but I figure, as long as the kid has the Bible open and is reading it, the Holy Spirit is going to work there...memorization not mandatory.) Heck, I went through a Bible study program in which we were supposed to memorize a verse each week and I failed miserably! As an adult! With motivation!
So I looked at the post on Janet's blog for a good long while and I thought about this child for a good long while...and I realized...these kids will surprise you at any time of year, but I particularly liked this one's surprise at this time of year.
So here's my verse for you guys to think on, because this is just as good a time of year as any for peaceful thoughts. "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." -- Luke 2:76-79
"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
posted by Sandy Lender | 4:43 PM
2 Comments:
Thanks for sharing this with others. The little boy is being raised by a single mom. She is a recovering alcoholic. The little boy's name is Joel. He himself is a miracle. He was born very prematurely, and weighed just 1 pound. He was in the hospital from July 5 until the end of October, when he was finally able to go home, Mom equipped with an alarm system in case he had trouble breathing.
We have watched this little boy grow up, and his mother grow with him. She is doing wonderfully, and so is Joel. He is taking tak-won-do (sp?) and is attending a Catholic private school. (Thus his education in things scripturally based.) The day he was serving for the first time as an altar boy, he came over, all dressed up in his black suit, white shirt and red tie. He was beaming from ear to ear. He wanted Ivan (my husband) to take his picture.
I think the passage about the lion lying down with the lamb is in Rev. I will have to go dig it up.
And yes, I remember trying to get the kids in VBS to memorize scriptures too!
And, wouldn't it truly be wonderful if someday the lion and the lamb can lay down together, in peace?
The Light is there to lead the Way. Now, to just get eveyone to follow it!
Peace!
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