Sunday Devotions - Childhood; Intense love and learning

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.  When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.  Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.  After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.  Luke 2:44-52

My boys Yip and Yap are getting the hang of second grade; longer spelling lists and more reading home. Luckily they have a great teacher this year that seems to really keep them motivated and engaged in their learning. 

More than once my boys have come home excited to share some tidbit of new information. "Did you know tomatoes are fruits NOT a vegetable?" " Did you know pigs are smarter than dogs?" It will be amazing what I'll learn by the end of the year with teachers like my sons. 

Even though my boys are only eight years old, and to me they seem so very young, they are learning new things everyday and given the opportunity they are excited to share their knowledge. That doesn't mean they always make the best decisions however. Yip made a bow from a stick and arrows from bamboo skewers...and managed to shoot me in the head while showing off hsi skills. 

Children are learning and they'll make mistakes. Even the boy Jesus made a mistake (a worldly one anyway). Instead of sticking with the traveling party or telling Joseph or Mary where he was going he stayed in the Temple to learn and gain and share understanding. He was following His Father's instructions. I wonder if the temple priests weren't just a little overwhelmed with the presence of Jesus. 

God sent Jesus to Earth not as a grown man but as a baby to grow and have a childhood and experience a childhood that each human on Earth experiences. Jesus as a child had that same willingness and excitement to learn as our children today. 

We know that God and Jesus dearly loves children in a very special way. In a way that I imagine I don't have the capacity to understand. God loves our children more than we do! 

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 21:16

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants,  you, Lord, have called forth your praise?”

Matthew 11:25

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Children can really try the patience of parents and other adults. Children are loud and messy and seem to be deaf when their parents speak. Children are reckless and impatient and have poor judgement. 

But God designed childhood to be just like this. God has a very special reason that we all had a childhood. 

Childhood is also the place in our lives where children nurture their dreams and creativity. Childhood should provide a safe environment for making mistakes and learning from them. God has provided children knowledge, faith, trust and understanding that adults may never truly fathom. Childhood is a precious, precious gift and we adults would do well to remember the details of our own just a little bit better. 

Yes, our kids can be trying. That's the way God made them....and they are perfect!! Childhood is perfect, and short, let's give our kids a break today. 

Dear Heavenly Father, Grant me patience today as a parent. When I feel like I'm at my wit's end with my children help me to remember that you made them perfect. Their childhood is fleeting and precious to them. Help me nurture them during this time in their lives and open my heart to learn from the. Amen. 

Sunday Devotions - The Ten Lepers

Luke 17:11-19

As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

This week I've been preparing for my very first lesson as a Sunday School teacher which is the story of the ten lepers and thankfulness. When Jesus heals ten lepers only one returns to say 'thank you' to Jesus. I can't imagine Jesus was too content with being brushed off by the other nine. Granted, I'm sure they were excited about the miracle that had worked in their bodies but honestly, would saying 'thank you' really have taken that much of their time? The lesson from this story seems to resounding in my own life quite a bit lately. 

As I mom I often feel taken for granted for all the things I do. Anyone else ever feel that way? One particularly stressful afternoon I had been cooking dinner, finished homework with my boys, allowed them to have a friend over to play, made a quick dash to the store for my kids and was bombarded for requests for this and that and whatnot. By the time my husband arrived home from work I was tired and upset and I just left. I left my husband to finish dishes and put the kids to bed. While I was off on my own I realized I was so upset because none of my kids had said thank you the entire afternoon or evening despite my running around doing things for them. I felt totally used and tossed aside. 

On a side note, my hubby must have laid a guilt trip on them because I awoke the next morning to homemade "I'm sorry" cards and solemn apologies from both my boys. 

Aren't I guilty of the same thing though? I have a prayer wall, a wall full of Post It Notes, of people I pray for. I don't thank God near often enough for the prayers he's answered or gifts he's provided me. Is "thank you" really that difficult to say? Does it take that long? And now that I think about it I should probably be thanking many others for things in my life as well. I need to thank my husband for covering for me and my mom duties when I get pushed to the limit and have to run off. I need to thank my kids for all the hugs/kisses/stories/pictures/laughs they provide me everyday. I need to thank a lot of people in one way or another. Who can you thank today? 

Dear Heavenly Father, The words "Thank You" don't fall out of my mouth nearly enough. Please help me cultivate a thankful heart that I may recognize all the work You do for me. Amen.