Welcomed Home
(Written by JoAnn Gibson)
Thus far, 1998 has not presented itself as a very kind year for us. In the 10-long
days since we've heralded in the new year, I've nursed back to health one child with
pneumonia, one child with bronchitis, one husband with bronchitis, four ear infections and
the flu all around.
In an effort to maintain my family's restored health, our kitchen now resembles the
vitamin and supplement section of our local Wal-Mart and I've forced the children into
partial seclusion. Rented movies and Nintendo games provided their only diversion for
their week-plus of illness.
Needless to say after a time, between the pets and the children, there were few
windows in our home that didn't frame a forlorn looking face. As the coughing and the
fevers that had kept their desire for freedom at bay subsided, they began to clamor for
ANY kind of distraction.
So it was with great care that I broke the news to our youngest child that his much
awaited outing to Sunday School would be put off for yet another week. with a quivering
chin and tears pooling in his dark eyes, he cried "But Mommy . . . if I don't go to
church, God will miss me."
He stayed home that Sunday, but I carried his words and conveyed sentiment with me for
days to follow. I'm glad I didn't go with my first instinct and tell him "don't be
silly, sweetie. God won't miss you because God knows exactly where to find you."
Why? Because this child who has mastered the Flintstones chewable vitamins,
child-proof lid and who revealed to us grownups the mysterious workings of our VCR,
managed with this one innocent phrase to reveal to me a side of God that I desperately
needed to see.
The God who patiently waited on me as I kissed away tears and fretted over everyone's
health, sparing only a moment here and there to offer up token prayers. The God who,
despite my shortcomings, said to me on that very Sunday through the book of
Isaiah:
"I have summoned you by name; you are MINE . . . Since you are precious and
honored in my sight, and because I love you . . ."
I didn't tell my son that God wouldn't miss him because I want my son to continue
believing what we seem to forget as we gain in worldly wisdom . . . a God who loves us
enough to take the time to say through the wisdom of innocence "I've missed
you!"
Man can change a person's mind - but only God can change a heart!
(Written by JoAnn Gibson; copyright 1998)
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Children will not always do
what they're told,
but they will do
what they see!
"Be an example to them of good deeds of
every kind.
Let everything you do reflect your love of the truth."
Titus 2:7 (TLB)
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