22 May 2008

Jesus Loved(s) Children

The lines were very long as we waited for our groceries to be checked. The Hispanic family right in front of us consisted of a lady with two of her children and a nephew she was raising. The small girl sitting in the buggy was so cute. The boys, ages eight and nine, were fine looking children. The older boy looked me straight in the eye and said, “I don’t speak English” and then he smiled from ear to ear. He was so cute and his beautiful smile and his childish humor reminded me so much of one of our grandsons who lives in North Carolina . While we were waiting we also did a lot of visiting with this family. Of course, the boys spoke good English. They said that people just assumed they spoke Spanish instead of English because of their physical appearance. In just a few minutes our hearts were touched by these beautiful children.

The mother said that they were moving back to Houston , Texas . The chances of seeing this family again is very doubtful. I could not help but to be moved emotionally when I contemplated they might not be taught of Jesus Christ. I prayed a short prayer upon arriving home for them and for all the children of the world that they might learn of Jesus. All of God’s children are beautiful and precious in His sight.

Even in our own city you see children of various races and nationalities. It doesn’t matter the color of their skin whether they are “red and yellow, black and white” they need to know of God’s saving grace and of Jesus who loves every one of them. I pray regularly that all of our grandchildren might come to know Jesus as their savior. As Christians, we should support monetarily and morally every effort to evangelize the world with the message of salvation, made possible through the death of the dear Son of God. You see the faces of the innocent children on television who have been devastated by the various natural disasters that have occurred recently and you want the very best for them. And the very best for them would be that they could be brought up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord”.

In the accounts of Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16 and Luke 18:15-17, it is recorded that people brought little children to Jesus “that he should touch them”. Matthew wrote that “he laid his hands of them” while Mark records, “And he took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.” All three witnesses mentioned that Jesus had the highest regard for the children when he said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God .” Here was God incarnate in human flesh whose name was Jesus and He took the time out of his busy schedule to touch and caress these little ones and to bless them. It is to be more like our Lord when we take time to hug the children and teach them of Jesus who loves them so much.

A CHILD TO LOVE
You can have your wealth and riches all the things so many seek,
Position, power, and success, the fame you long to keep.
You can earn as much as you wish, reach a status high above,
But none of these can equal having one sweet child to love.
'Tis the greatest gift from heaven, little arms that hold you tight,
And a kiss so soft and gentle when you tuck them in at night.
A million precious questions and each story often read,
Two eyes so bright and smiling, and a darling tousled head.
God has never matched the goodness of a trusting little face,
Or a heart so full of laughter spreading sunshine every place.
A child to hold and cuddle, 'tis a gift from God above,
And the world is so much brighter when you have a child to love.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

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