Christmas and Children

Christmas and children go together like marshmallows and hot chocolate. So when child stories started flying my way, it was well-timed fun and a blessing. Hope you enjoy them as well.

My sister-in-law shared a picture of her grandson, completely enraptured with the nativity scene.

Another relative sent a video of their four-year-old grandchild praising God at the top of her lungs, her brown curls bouncing as she pounded her fingers across her tiny piano:

"We worship God! We worship God! We worship God! The Lord is among us! I love him soooo much! He turns the bad guys into good guys. He protects me, and that's the way it's supposed to be!"

And then there was our nephew who was sharing with his nine-year-old daughter about election cheating. She got quiet and somber. Then she burst forth with Scripture: "Oh men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, oh Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?" (Psalm 139:19b-21)

Shortly after, a friend sent a video of a toddler in front of a church pew with her arms raised, swaying back and forth, eyes closed, worshiping with all her heart.

In 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.'"

Lord, may you find us with a child-like heart. One that speaks forth your Word in confidence. A faith that worships you in complete adoration. One that shows itself in complete awe at the wonder of the best story the world has known: The Christmas story, where you descended down to us in a manger wrapped in no greater humility and love possible to reconcile us back to you.