Happy Birthday, Maggie!

 

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13-15 ESV).

 

Today is my next-to-the-oldest granddaughter’s birthday. Maggie is seven! You may remember that I celebrated the oldest just a few days ago. One of my favorite pictures taken with Maggie is the one I’ve attached. It was taken last spring when Mary and I visited with David and his family. I had been fishing and managed to catch a small bass. Maggie was close by and when she saw the catch she said, “Can I hold it before you put it back in the lake PeePaw?” It would have been too easy to wave her off and get on to the next catch. Had I done that I would have missed two important moments. One was giving her the joy of holding the fish and releasing it to the lake. The other, even more important, was taking the time to be with her. Her smile and exuberance speaks volumes even now as I reflect on that moment.

 

Today, as I write the devotional, I thought of the reading included. The story is very descriptive even though it is relatively brief. By the time this event takes place Jesus has become famous throughout Israel. He has taught in the synagogues; healed many of the afflicted; cast out demons; and, fed multitudes from a small boy’s lunch of five biscuits and small perch-sized fish. People followed him wherever he went. On this occasion they were bring their children to be blessed by him. The disciples thought that was somehow beneath him. They questioned how he could possibly spend time with children. Jesus corrected them quickly and directly saying, “Let the little children come come to me and do not hinder them” (v. 14).

 

It’s Christmas time. We are busier than ever. There are so many things to do and places to be. Even as I take today to write this birthday devotional, I am tempted to ask whether this is really a good use of a day in the series on Advent. Then I’m reminded, this may be the best use of the day’s thoughts. We cannot get so busy doing for Christmas that we forget Christmas. This may mean incessant readings of the Christmas story, or watching the same Christmas movie over and over until you have every line memorized with your children or grandchildren. The point is that we cannot sacrifice time with them. These moments are altogether too far and few between to not do so. And, this is one of the best ways to “bring them to Jesus.” They see Him in us. Give them a good look at the Savior! And… Happy Birthday, Maggie!