OOH!
(From July 2003)
Madison shouted, "OOH!, We forgot to pray!" She'd already started to
butter and eat her corn on the cob before I could say: "let's pray", so we
just went about our dinner. About halfway through, she realized what so
often we neglect, or take for granted...we hadn't thanked God, or asked
for His blessing on our meal. We've gone to get her, so she could 'swim'
in our little 'pool', three times this week. Dillon was staying at his other
grandparents house, so it was just the three of us this weekend. One of
our favorite times with the grandkids, is Sundays. We pick them up, get
them something quick to eat, go to church, then out to lunch with some
of our church family. Madison tends to call them "her people".
We know they learn from us and from Sunday School and worship, so
we try to be the best examples of committed Christians we are able to
be. We're so thankful for our church family (Her people), and for just
how important they are to her in her life. Dillon appreciates and loves
them too, but there is a special bond between Madison and the people
of this church. She has even insisted that her mother invite them to a
birthday party. There's nothing unusual about a child wanting to invite
other children to a birthday party...but these friends are not children.
Madison named several adult friends to invite to her party. Her mother
knew she couldn't afford to pay for pizza and cake for all these people,
so she wisely made her limit her list to just one or two. She made her
choice, so one of our friends made time in her busy schedule to come
to Madison's birthday party.
I've come to realize just how important we can be in any child's life. We
who try to be a positive influence on the little ones we see often are so
much more than just a friend of their parents...if we prove ourselves to
be genuinely interested in them. I see in Dillon and Madison's respect
and love for our friends, just what my friend's children need from me.
They need honesty, respect, genuine love and care.... They need to see
a good example when we're together. They need to know I'm there for
them if they need to talk, a hug, a tear wiped away, a boo-boo kissed to
make it better and most of all, they need my prayers. They need to see
that I'm not afraid to pray aloud at dinner, or when anything frightens
them. When others are concerned, saddened or in pain. These children
need to know I depend on God...and, they can depend on me. I thank
God for these children and the lessons we learn from them.
Father...Holy God, we thank You for the children You have put into our
care. Help us all to be examples of strong faith and dependence in You.
Let us learn from them, how to care for them. Let us see and fill their
needs in a way that's pleasing to You. Keep us from leading them in a
wrong way. Let them see in us that You are the center of our lives and
our being. Let us show them how to be forgiving, as we ask also to be
forgiven. Help us to show these children we affect that they are loved.
We lift our concerns and our loved ones to You, in our prayer together:
Asking for healing of body, mind and spirit, for softening of hearts,
reconciliation, release from addiction, from abusive situations, comfort
and calming of worry. These things and more, we ask in Jesus' name....
Amen.
"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it
would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck
and to be drowned in the depths of the sea..." "See that you do not look
down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven
always see the face of my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:5,6 &10 NIV
Steve _________________
© Steven Green 2003
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