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THOSE PRECIOUS LITTLE CHILDREN

“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”

Mark 10: 13 - 16 (King James Version)

Yesterday I was hungry for a fish dinner so I decided to treat myself. I went to Captain D’s to have a fish dinner as I love their fish dinners. While I was eating, a family with four little children came in and sat at the table next to me. I not only saw the love they showed to each other, but I could actually feel the love that the family had for one another. The parents were smiling and laughing while talking to their children and to each other. As I looked at those precious little children sitting there, I got a big lump in my throat and tears in my eyes and my heart melted.

I called the mother over to my table and asked her if she would allow me to give her children a Christmas present. She said that she would. I gave her a dollar to give to each of the children. The children are four years old, five years old, eight years old and eight months. I watched as she went back to her table with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. She sat down, looked at her husband and he gave her a hug. She gave the children the presents that I had given her to give to them. The joy on those precious little children’s faces is the best Christmas present that I could ever have.

The children looked at me and smiled and said over and over “Thank you for the Christmas gift”. Even the baby smiled as though she knew what was happening. I told the mother to be sure the baby didn’t try to eat the dollar. The mother smiled and said that the baby wanted to eat everything she could reach. Oh how I thank God for the privilege of meeting this dear family and feeling the love that they had for each other which was so evident on their faces and in their conversation.

Just as the parents rejoiced to see their children happy so our Heavenly Father rejoices when He sees His beloved Son happy. Every time that we do something kind for Jesus it makes our Heavenly Father happy. When we are not kind to Jesus, it makes our dear Heavenly Father very sad.

How God’s heart must have hurt and been broken when His beloved Son was crucified on that old rugged cross for you and for me. I am sure that He had tears in His heart because He couldn’t even look at His Son as He hung there for us. Jesus had taken our sins on Himself and God is a Holy God and can’t look on sin so He had to turn away from His beloved Son.

Are you making our Heavenly Father happy or are you making Him sad? You may be saved, born again through the atoning and redeeming blood of Jesus, but have you surrendered everything you have to Jesus and dedicated your life in service to Him? You may not be called to go as a missionary to another country, but even in your home you can be a missionary and extend the unconditional love of Jesus to your spouse and children. Does your family know that you love Jesus? You can tell them you love Jesus but if you are not kind and loving to your family they will not believe you. What kind of missionary are you being for Jesus in your home?

Joanne Lowe
December 15, 2007

An entry by Joanne Lowe (e-Mail: joannelowe8[at]cox.net), Pensacola, FL.
Please vistit her website with over one thousand writings/devotions