Yesterday I spent time with two of my grandchildren — Kenedie and Gracie. You may know Kenedie’s story. (I shared it earlier this year.) She was born premature. Weighed less than two pounds. Lived in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for about three months. Today, she’s a tall, strong, smart, young lady with a beautiful smile and lovely voice who plays ukulele and writes songs.
And Gracie? Well, she’s just Gracie. Exuberant. Unpretentious. Energetic. Funny. She likes dogs. Cats. Pizza. And ice cream. Yesterday, I told her jokes. Made faces. Sang. Danced. And, generally, delivered the full range of my talent.
Her response?
“You’re not as funny as my Dad.”
She’s right.
As my son, “The Lawyer,” often quipped when he was her age:
“You’re funny Dad — but looks aren’t everything.”
So much for special movements . . .
In Matt 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (NLT)
I can imagine Gracie walking up to Jesus, and saying something like: “I like pizza. Do you like pizza?”
Ever wonder why, when Jesus went to town, he didn’t ask to see the smartest people, or the richest, or the most influential? Instead he sought people with problems. People with challenges. People with short-comings. And, of course, children.
What about you? Would you rather spend an afternoon with a group of stodgy, self-important theologians, scientists and career politicians — or with a 4-year-old having ice cream and pizza?
I know which one I’d pick . . .
SUNDAY MEDITATIONS ARCHIVE: Click here.
