Mom Teach Me What You Know About Jesus
My child asked this
question one day while eating a sandwich at the park, I realized then, that I
could tell her how Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins, and of the
loaves and fishes. Or maybe I could tell her how Jesus was born to Mary in
a manger. There is so much I have read in my Bible, God's love story to
the world.
We read and we see all God is and will be to come. But to
really know God, we must look at our children. Children have an
unconditional love of life, and faith that when we steer them in any direction
it must be a good one. My child has taught me about faith.
God
directs us on the path we need to follow. We chose weather or not to
follow His guidance. As I guide my child on the right path I often hear,
No, I don't want to, so I reprimand. He is always there to reprimand me
when I steer from that path.
I'm often reminded of driving down the road
and hearing, Oops Mom, you missed that entrance ramp. And we tell them
don't be a back seat driver. So I try to give Him all power, that's not
always easy. Like children, we want control of what we do, and we have
free will.
I'm learning to trust God and like a child, give Him all
control. But fear is in the heart of man. When I am afraid and that
sweet little child says, Mom, its OK, I am once again reminded I need to have
more faith.
Kids have fights with friends and forgive all the next day,
God says forgive and be forgiven. Yet we have a hard time as adults doing
this, we are all children of GOD.
I learn from my mistakes through the
eyes of GOD. I see the wrong I do. He has a way of letting us know
we need to draw near like a child needs a shoulder in the storm. He is my
shoulder to cry on when fear sets in, He is my rock, yet I hide like a child who
snuck a can of pop and tried to hide it under their bed. Our father knows
us; He sees us and forgives us, then helps clean up our mess. I've made
some big messes and He knows every one, yet He forgives.
From you my sweet
child I have learned these things. You need my teaching. I can't
teach you without asking God to guide me, like a child on a balance beam holding
His hand so as not to fall. At times I can't give you a good answer but
somehow they always understand, and smile and say, Oh, Mom. Yet we expect
a lot out of them, we want the best for them as our Father in heaven wants for
us all.
When we go to the mall we tell them stay close, do not stray, I
don't want you to get lost. With our Father we are never lost.
I am
often in awe when I consider the faith of a child. When I teach my Sunday
school Class, the kids are so excited about JESUS, they sit in anticipation to
hear all they can so they can tell everyone all about it. 'Funny that' we
often keep it to ourselves, wondering what others may think or how they will
respond. WE need to have faith and understanding and a will to follow a
straight path and I am learning these things through the eyes of the children.
So my sweet child, what do I know about Jesus? I know He loves us and will
protect and guide us and remind us of His love and give us all we ask, if we
just have the faith of a child. Thank you my dears for teaching us all to
love Jesus.
Elliot the ELEPHANT A Story for Little Christopher
Their once was a little
elephant named Elliot. He was about six years old, and he was just like you.
Elliot was smaller than all the other elephants, and even the monkeys thought he
was funny looking. All the animals in the village would laugh at poor Elliot,
just because he was a little different. Eliot was so very sad. All he wanted
was for everyone to like him and to just be nice.
One day, Elliot came up with
a plan. He decided to ask GOD to change him so that he would be enough for every
one else, and they would like him. That night after mom kissed him good night,
gave him a glass of water, and helped him say his prayers, Elliot prayed another
prayer. It was his best prayer ever. He was sure GOD would answer his prayer
because GOD does that sort of thing. But, the next morning Elliot was still
small. He thought he may even have shrank a little.
Eliot was mad at GOD and he
yelled at GOD. You made a promise to be here for me and you were not there, when
I prayed to you. I am still small as ever and well GOD, I am angry at you. But,
Elliot never gives up, so the next night he prayed that GOD would change the
hearts of everyone else in the Animal kingdom, so they would not be mean to him
anymore. Well you probably guessed it. All the animals acted the same. Poor
Eliot felt awful, so he decided to go ride his bike. This always made Elliot
feel better.
Just as Elliot went outside
to get his bike, he saw something. Elliot saw a very nice looking family moving
in next door. There was a little elephant just like Elliot and he was carrying a
big box. Elliot decided to help his new neighbor. After all the work was done
Elliot got a chance to talk to his new friend. His name was Erin. Eliot and Erin
played together all the time after that, but all the other animals still made
fun of Elliot. But now, they made fun of both of them and still called them
little.
One day Eliot and Erin saw a
sign that said Church so they went in. The two boys thought this thing called
Church was a lot of fun and they learned that GOD made them and that God loves
them just as they are. Soon the other Animals noticed that Eliot and Erin were
not upset by them calling the names anymore and the other animals asked them
why. They told the other animals that they learned that God loves them and HE
made them just as they are. All the other animals were ashamed of themselves and
they stopped being mean to the two little elephants. Now they are all happy.
Dream Store
Nancy was having a
hard time piecing together her broken heart and keeping herself from running
away from feelings. At night she sat up thinking about ending her pitiful
life, but she decided after trying it twice, she couldn't even do that right.
After a while she just stopped feeling, and grew bitter.
One night she had a
dream that would somehow bring on many changes in her life. She dreamt
that she was walking down a road made of silver bricks, lined with stores.
All but one, were rather ordinary looking, shades of gray with nothing eye
catching. This store looked different. It had such lovely paintings
on one side, of unicorns dancing in the moonlight and painted sky blue all
around. This store looked interesting, so she went in.
"Hello Nancy", the
man behind the counter said. "What would you like?" Before Nancy
could even wonder how this man knew her name, she noticed something odd about
this store. It was empty except for a list of items to choose from. It
looked like a fast food menu, only it had some of the most bizarre items that
Nancy had ever seen.
Two of these items
caught her eye. They were a cousin for the heart and shoes for the soul.
"I would like number two", she said. "That will come in handy when my
heart breaks and I stumble and fall, as I run from my past, so it won't catch up
with me again." "Oh yes", said the store clerk, "Our best seller, yet the
weekly special, comes with your choice of a road block or eternal life.
Make your choice known to me, I will provide my dear."
"Well", Nancy said,
"I don't want a road block. What good would it be to have shoes if I got
nowhere? As far as eternal life, you can keep it. I have been around
too long. I have seen too much to want this to last much longer.
Certainly you must have something else for me."
"Look around and
see what you will." Nancy read the roster and found just what she needed.
She was so happy to have seen it. "I will take the rose colored glasses",
she said. So she paid the man all she had and started back down the
street.
With these rose
colored glasses, she thought, I shall have no worries. She got only two
feet from the store when she saw fireflies, as if dancing in the night sky.
Each one brought back a memory she had buried deep inside where no one could
touch them. The glasses did nothing. She fell to her knees and wept.
A voice called out
from far away. This voice she had heard in the past. It was tender.
"Those glasses", it said, "you have no need for them today. I will show you and
give you all you need to live." With these words, Nancy woke and
understood all she needed to know. God loves her.
Lost
It was a cold day
on the Mountain of Churn, where a family of six dogs just trying to survive in
the wilderness, found themselves in trouble. There was a loud rumble
overhead, as a big wall of snow came crashing down the mountain side. Dad
and Mom tried to get all the puppies under a ledge to safety, but the wall was
coming down too fast and there was no time.
The dog family
scattered to get out of the way. After the noise died down and all seemed
safe, Peter, the youngest in the family, came out from the tunnel he was hiding
in and called for his family. Peter grew frightened when he heard nothing
but the howl of a wolf. He looked for his family, but he couldn't find
them. Peter was alone for the first time in his life, and it was getting
dark. He knew how cold the night time could be, so he went back into the
cave. Peter knew he had to keep warm, but he remembered how Mom and Dad
always laid close to the puppies and it was warm. "Now they are gone",
Peter thought. "All of them, Mom, Dad, Tracy, Philip and Molly, and it is
all my fault. I should have protected them. I knew about the cave.
I just thought about myself and that's why they're lost."
Peter thought about
his family. He remembered how he would play with his sisters and his
brother. It was getting colder. "I have to find a way to keep warm.
In the morning I will look for them." Peter dug a hole in the cave.
He remembered how Dad taught him how to dig a hole to keep warm if he was ever
lost. Peter fell asleep and dreamed of his family.
Morning came over
the horizon. Peter woke to a beautiful sunrise. "Time to go
looking", he thought. Cold and alone, Peter walked through the snow,
searching for the family he lost. A fox approached peter and asked, "Why
is a scrawny little puppy like you, alone out here?" "I am looking for my
family", Peter replied. "They were lost in the avalanche yesterday."
"How did you survive such a big avalanche?" asked the fox. Peter said, "I
hid in a cave and they tried to run but now I can't find them. It is my
fault. I should have made sure they followed me."
The fox, who was
not nice at all, told Peter that he was right. He should have, and that it
was all his fault. This made Peter very sad. The fox gave peter a
little food and sent him on his way alone. Once again, Peter thought about
his family. Peter got to his feet and walked in the snow. It began
to get colder. It was a kind of cold that Peter had never known before.
It sent a chill down his spine.
Suddenly, Peter saw
a big dog. He looked like his Dad, only bigger, and his Dad had a white
stripe on his back. This dog was all black, like Peter. "Can you
help me?" Peter asked. "Are you Peter?" the big dog asked. "I am
your Uncle Persy. I have heard a lot about you. Your Dad tells me
you are quite a strong little guy. Where is the rest of your family?"
"Well, I lost them in the avalanche, and it's my fault they are gone", said
Peter.
Persy was a gently
dog, and very big. Peter was frightened and cold. Persy kept Peter
warm. He held him tightly as he cried himself to sleep. Peter woke
to the smell of dog chow. Mmm. Peter thought he was home with Mom
for a second, then realized he was in a house he had never been in before.
"You slept a long time", Uncle Persy said. "Where are we?" asked Peter.
"I can't stay, I need to find my family."
"They are gone,
Peter. I'm sorry. I will care for you", said Uncle Persy.
"It's all my fault!" Peter whined. "Peter, it was not your fault.
What makes you say that?" Uncle Persy asked. "Well", said Peter, "I
crawled in a cave and they were left in danger. I should have made sure
they got out of the way." "You were all frightened, and reasonably so",
said Uncle Persy, "but it was not up to you to save them. You are a puppy.
All you are supposed to do is play. God knows how you feel. He wants
you to know it is not your fault. We have to have faith that God has a
reason for everything, and God will always be with you. He sent me to find
you and I did. I will care for you now. You are loved."
Peter stayed with his Uncle Persy. He still
misses his family, but he is happy knowing God is always watching over him.
As for Uncle Persy, he has a wonderful gift of a puppy named Peter.
Truth and Understanding
Christen's 7th grade year started off
as usual, with basketball practice and homework. Christen was like any 7th
grader. She loved pizza, movies and the mall. Christen has Spinabifita and is
home with headaches a lot. Christen is a Christian and loves God. At her school,
these are obstacles. The other kids don't want to spend much time with Christen,
even the ones she has been friends with since 1st grade, now seem to be
interested in their other friends.
Christen talks to Jesus a lot, but
still, she is lonely. She feels so different from everyone. The basketball court
seems to be the only place she feels accepted. Her coach, Mr. Hearting, always
tells them to have fun and the whole team works together. Christen lives with
her Dad. Her Mom died last year. Christen feels like her Dad doesn't understand
her. "If Mom was here, she would know what to say to make me feel better", often
flies out of her mouth, before she can stop it. Dad looks so sad when she says
that. He tells her she can talk to him, but Christen remembers that before Mom
died, Dad was too busy to be bothered. She told Mom everything. They talked
about boys, shopping, basketball ... everything. Now Dad says, "You can talk to
me", but he is working even more now than before. Since Mom passed away, he
hardly say a word to Christen.
Dad was hard to talk to. It was
easier to talk on the computer in chat rooms than to talk to him, so after
homework, when she wasn't practicing her hoops, or at a game, she would turn on
her computer and talk to whoever would listen. No one had to know she was in a
wheel chair and she could tell them all about her Mom and how happy she was.
Christen thought, "What does it matter what I say?" So she spoke of going to the
mall and spending time with Mom. She spoke of basketball, just left out the fact
that she plays from her wheelchair.
But soon, Christen's whole life
seemed like a lie. She became more sad and seemed far from God. By the time she
realized she needed to get back to God, a boy started to talk to her a lot, so
getting back to the Lord was put out of her mind. He said his name was Bruce and
he played basketball on his Jr. High school team. He seemed nice and they had a
lot in common. They both felt left out. He lives with his mom. His parents are
divorced and he is just a loner.
Christen was getting more withdrawn
at home. Her dad asked if she was all right and she said, "Yes, I'm fine." Her
Dad didn't know she spent so much time online. He was usually working. "Christen
can take care of herself", he thought, "she is responsible enough."
Christen and Bruce told each other
about their games. Bruce's team had one win and three losses. Christen told
Bruce, "It isn't all about winning, if you love the game." This made Bruce feel
happy. They talked about school and life at home. Bruce lives in Chicago, and
Christen lives in Minnesota. They talked about how nice it would be to finally
see each other, face to face. "Bruce will never see me", Christen thought, "so
he can't be hurt by my not mentioning the fact that I am in a wheelchair. He
never needs to know. Besides, everything else I've told him is truth."
What Bruce hadn't told Christen would
change everything. Christen and Bruce talked through most of that school year.
In April, Christen was going to be in the biggest game of her life. Even Dad was
excited for her. Bruce wanted to surprise Christen, by showing up at her game.
He knew what she looked like from a picture. He talked to his parents about his
idea. They gave him permission to talk to his aunt. She was a travel agent and
was able to get cheap tickets.
Bruce and his Dad flew to Minnesota
for Christen's game. They brought her picture along to make sure Bruce
recognized her. He was so excited, he rehearsed what he would say when they
finally met face to face. All he could think of while waiting for the teams to
get on the floor was how excited Christen would be. Bruce told his Dad, "I think
she really likes me."
Soon the teams were called on the
court, but when Bruce saw them all in wheelchairs he was stunned. "Dad, are we
at the right place?" "I thought so son." Then he saw her. Christen was as
beautiful as her picture. Bruce was shocked to see her in that chair. He hoped
she didn't see him. He had to see her game. He was proud of his friend, but
thought, "How could she lie to me, and why?" Bruce's Dad watched the game with
Bruce and wondered what to say to him.
Christen's team was doing well. The
score was 5 to 2 when the teams took a break. Bruce's Dad thought, "I best say
something to Bruce", so he told him how hard it must be to always feel so
different. She probably wanted to feel more like normal. Bruce knew that feeling
all too well. He told his Dad that he feels left out too. "There's not many kids
like me, I'm just different. Kind of a geek." Bruce's Dad gave him some advice.
"Talk to her after the game son. Anyone can walk away." So they stayed through
the game.
Christen was a good player. Bruce
never thought of a handicapped person as an athlete until now. He never thought
much about them at all. He thought about that all through the game. After the
game, Bruce and his Dad waited outside the school where the game took place and
waited for Christen. When Christen and her Dad came out, she saw him. She didn't
know what to do so she started to cry and told her Dad, "That's Bruce."
Christen's Dad shook his hand and asked, "Are you a friend from school? Christen
hasn't mentioned you." Bruce felt confused. He told his parents all about
Christen but her dad had no idea who he was.
Bruce's Dad explained what had
happened. The children needed to talk, so they all went out for supper. Christen
told Bruce she was sorry she hadn't been hones with him and she talked to her
Dad about how she really feels. For the first time, she could remember, they
talked about her feelings. Everyone learned a lot that night about truth and the
importance of talking to our children. No matter how hard that may be or how old
they are, we need to talk to our children. Christen and Bruce are still friends,
and she talks to her Dad a lot more. Christen is going to be just fine.
Candy Kangaroo
In a kingdom far away, where animals
roam free, lions roar, eagles soar, and everyone has their own special place,
there lived a kangaroo named Candy and her three children. Candy didn't feel she
had time to get everything done for Max, Anna and Isabella. "If only I had more
time in a day to cook and clean for my children. It seems I have no time for
me", she would say.
Candy had friends who seemed to have
an easier time with their children. This made Candy feel even worse. What were
her children doing to make her life so hard that her friends' children weren't
doing? She confided in a friend who told her to take time for herself, then she
could have fun and be happier when she was caring for the kids.
Candy thought this sounded like a
wonderful plan. "Just don't take too much time", this friend warned her, "or you
will have even less time for the kids." "Oh yes", said Candy, "I will be
careful." At first she was very careful to take a little break with a cup of tea
every morning. Max, Anna, and Isabella were glad Mom had something she enjoyed.
They all were a lot happier. Things got done and there was time for play.
Candy was content with this for a while,
but soon she thought, "I need more. My kids are all happy. Isabella and Anna
love to play games with me. Max even found a new friend. His name was Doug. "But
I NEED MORE." Candy liked Doug's Mom. Her name was Sue. They all had fun
together. Candy and Sue ordered pizzas and the kids played together.
Candy was happy with her new friend, but
soon they both said, "WE NEED MORE FOR OURSELVES." So they went shopping, just
the two of them. The kids were at a sitter, and soon their pouches were full of
jewelry and trinkets just for them. The kids had each other, thought the two
mothers. We can have fun now. I like this.
Candy walked her children to the park
the next day, but had no room for them in her pouch. It was filled with all she
NEEDED for herself. Soon the kids grew tired. They stared to cry. Candy told
them they can walk. She liked her things and planned to keep them.
Her children didn't understand why Mom
wouldn't make room for them. They began to rebel. They broke things and fought
with other kids. Candy couldn't understand why they were being so naughty. Max
was the oldest, so he tried to care for Anna and Isabella when Mom and Sue were
gone, but they would fight over the toys and make big messes.
Candy was upset, but she knew she had to
make room for her kids, even if that meant not carrying her jewelry and
trinkets, so she went back to taking time for herself in the morning with a cup
of tea. Max, Anna and Isabella played games with Mom when she had time. Candy
also found that children can help out. She gave each a chore they could do and
the family had time to talk to each other.
Now all of Candy's children ride with
Candy in her pouch and last thing I knew, they are doing fine. Candy, Max, Anna
and Isabella go to church and play together as a team.
The Un-tangible Church
There's a place where I go, a place I meet many people my eyes haven't Seen.
I get in my chair and fire up my machine click on a button and off I beam.
I go to a place I've never Seen, the words on my screen are from people it would
seem.
They all have a different flair one is guarding both heart and soul thinking
maybe no one will know. Another is a dreamer full of wonder and hope. One has
a soft side, and allows it to come out and play in the light of the day. One
loves her Mother but worries about her a bit. one loves people, uses music
as a tool when speaking to others.
These people I meet who my eyes never see are easy to talk to and I wander if
that is how it should be, in my machine I am strong I have my cover on when I go
out in to the real world with people my eyes see I lose my cover, how can this
be. In a world of many what do we really see? do we look? Or merely let our eyes
see as we please.
