Tag Archives: Fingers

WHEN

17 Sep

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18:16-17 KJV

 

💖

The Lord keeps showing me, over and over,

images of the little child that rests inside each angry man.

💖

The baby who first discovered his fingers and toes,

or laughed with glee upon his first sighting of a butterfly.

💖

The little boy who wiggled through his first haircut,

he was so proud.

💖

The little boy who brought home weed-flowers

for his mom to put in a vase.

💖

The cut-out crooked hearts

with “I love you, daddy” scribbled across.

💖

The little boy who wanted to be a policeman,

a fireman or the President.

💖

The little boy who learned to ride a bike

and could almost keep up with dad.

💖

The little boy who chewed wild grass

and dreamt of flying a rocket to the moon.

💖

The little boy who made a 100% on his spelling test,

but couldn’t quite figure out math.

💖

When did he turn into an angry young man,

bitter, distant and lost.

💖

When did friends become more precious than family,

no matter when, no matter where.

💖

When did Christmas cookies turn to alcohol,

Mother Goose to pornography.

💖

When did alcohol turn to drugs;

to live for, to kill for, to die for.

💖

When did skateboards turn to drive-by shootings,

picnics to funerals, love to hate.

💖

When did he become an angry young man,

falling deeper and deeper into sin, into death, into Hell.

💖

If you look close enough you can see that little boy,

through the dazed eyes of drugs.

💖

If you listen carefully you can hear that little boy crying out for help,

for peace, for love.

💖

If you hug him long enough you will feel the shield and barriers fall away

– long enough for him to know someone cares.

💖

And if you walk with him long enough you can guide him along the path

to find that little boy again.

💖

 

 

Written 3/21/95

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

HUMBLE BIRTH

10 Sep

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.     Luke 2:4-7 KJV

 

It wasn’t that they had to travel,

travel was a way of life -

travel to the place of sacrifice -

travel to the special feasts.


It wasn’t the taxation,

that too had become a way of life.

It wasn’t the number of people -

traveling to their father’s lands -

waiting - walking - crowding.


It wasn’t being heavy with child -

ready for the precious birth -

difficult to ride -

impossible to walk.


It was that all had come together on this momentous occasion,

even with careful preparation -

not really prepared -

for the events to come.


And in all the disappointment of the evening,

the kindness of a stranger -

a humble and rugged resting place -

became the catalyst of a birth.


As the night grew its darkest,

the light pierced the sky -

to announce the hope -

of generations to come.



Cutting the sky, as the pillar of fire,

drawing those with the pureness of heart -

the star spoke the joy -

of the new life to come.


In His earliest moments of life,

He the same as others -

tiny perfect fingers -

tiny perfect toes -

the miracle of birth every parent admires.


Yet, with the sameness came the new,

the anointed glow -

with the very first breath -

drawing God’s servants -

from near and far.



A humble start - for the humbling of the heart.

No wealth or grandeur - the capture of pride.

The kindness of a stranger - to instill mercy.



And the family of flesh mixed with the family of Spirit -

surrounding - comforting

to build a solid foundation of love.


It didn’t happen the way they had wanted -

Mary and Joseph -

but it was the plan of God.



Not one moment of His precious life was wasted,

every moment etched the path of tomorrow’s grace.



So tiny - so frail,

a King was born -

a King sent to gather the humble -

to exhort the meek -

to teach love to all who would listen -

to live - and - to die -

for every precious child -

that has graced God’s earth.

 

 

Written 12-21-97

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,