About a year ago I had an interaction with my son that help me see more clearly a truth about Jesus Christ. Those are some of the best moments. As a parent you, at times, feel like you are overwhelmed with trying to pour into your kids as much as possible. You strive to teach them about the realities of the world, about right and wrong, about manners and common decency and about the reality of Jesus Christ. You worry that you have missed something, you have wasted a chance to help them grow or that by how you have handled a situation you have set them back. These are some of the stresses of being a parent. But there are also enormous benefits. Moments that you wouldn't trade for the world. Glimpses into who they are becoming that fill you with a pride that is nearly impossible if not completely impossible to explain.
Now, mind you, my oldest son has, at times, blown me away for other reasons. Sometimes less than favorable reasons. This is the same little boy who a few years ago after I had this magical "dad moment" with him, when I shared with him that I believed in him and that he could be anything he wanted to be in this life. That he could, with some hard work become anything he wanted in life. I then listed things like being a doctor, or singer or a football player, anything he put his mind to. It was then that he looks me in the eyes, and with all the sincerity in the world says, "Dad, I want to be a dinosaur!" And with that, the moment was over.
So, as you can see, he isn't always prone to share some reality of who Jesus is. Often, he is incredibly random and goofy. Which I love home for. But he has his moments. This next story is one of them.
Now, mind you, my oldest son has, at times, blown me away for other reasons. Sometimes less than favorable reasons. This is the same little boy who a few years ago after I had this magical "dad moment" with him, when I shared with him that I believed in him and that he could be anything he wanted to be in this life. That he could, with some hard work become anything he wanted in life. I then listed things like being a doctor, or singer or a football player, anything he put his mind to. It was then that he looks me in the eyes, and with all the sincerity in the world says, "Dad, I want to be a dinosaur!" And with that, the moment was over.
So, as you can see, he isn't always prone to share some reality of who Jesus is. Often, he is incredibly random and goofy. Which I love home for. But he has his moments. This next story is one of them.
He wanted to make sure that I could look at him and be reminded of what love was, of what love felt like.
My son can be one of the sweetest little boys. Sometimes when I am getting ready to leave the house for some mundane errand or task that I need to leave the house for, my son will say, "Daddy! Daddy! Wait! I just wanna give you a hug!" It is awesome. I love it. I love that he wants to stop the world and give me one more hug. I know that sometime, sometime very soon, he will outgrow that. But for now, I am totally into it.
This time my son said "Wait! Wait! I'll be right back!" and he runs off towards his bedroom. He is gone for like a minute and then comes running back towards me. He has something in his hand which he is very excited for me to take. As he gets closer, I can see that its a family picture of us. He typically has it hanging on a bulletin board in his room, but now, its in his hands, which are anxiously trying to hand it to me. I say, "What's this for buddy? Why did you want me to have this?" He is very excited and says, "It is so you will remember us daddy!" I think to myself, "I am only going to grab some milk and hamburger buns from the grocery store!" Its not going to be a long trip. But he is so excited, "Its for you to remember!"
It was a very sweet gesture. He knew I wouldn't be long. He knew where I was going and what I was going to buy. But that didn't matter. He wanted to give me something to remember him by. And it was incredibly meaningful to me. He loved me so much that he wanted to make sure that I had him with me. He wanted to make sure that I could look at him and be reminded of what love was, of what love felt like. And it worked. That picture was a perfect reminder that even in the mundane everyday stuff, my family is right there.
This time my son said "Wait! Wait! I'll be right back!" and he runs off towards his bedroom. He is gone for like a minute and then comes running back towards me. He has something in his hand which he is very excited for me to take. As he gets closer, I can see that its a family picture of us. He typically has it hanging on a bulletin board in his room, but now, its in his hands, which are anxiously trying to hand it to me. I say, "What's this for buddy? Why did you want me to have this?" He is very excited and says, "It is so you will remember us daddy!" I think to myself, "I am only going to grab some milk and hamburger buns from the grocery store!" Its not going to be a long trip. But he is so excited, "Its for you to remember!"
It was a very sweet gesture. He knew I wouldn't be long. He knew where I was going and what I was going to buy. But that didn't matter. He wanted to give me something to remember him by. And it was incredibly meaningful to me. He loved me so much that he wanted to make sure that I had him with me. He wanted to make sure that I could look at him and be reminded of what love was, of what love felt like. And it worked. That picture was a perfect reminder that even in the mundane everyday stuff, my family is right there.
Jesus has done the same thing for us. We have this thing we do in churches, some every week, some once a month, some once every other month, some even do it on Wednesdays and Sundays. We have been given communion as something to remember who Jesus is and what He has done.
Luke 22:17-19
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Jesus gave us something for us to have with us, to take part in that is designed to remind us of what love is, what love feels like. I know for myself I need that reminder. Growing up taking part in communion had at times become just this empty ritual. It wasn't something I though much of. But now, now I see it for what it is. We have a God who loves us beyond comprehension that gave His Son to us to die so He could rise and conquer death so that we may be with God for eternity.
Don't allow communion to become common place for you. Don't allow it to become just something that you do during worship. Instead, celebrate it with every chance you have to take part in it. Let it truly serve as that reminder of who Christ is and what He has done for you.
Luke 22:17-19
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Jesus gave us something for us to have with us, to take part in that is designed to remind us of what love is, what love feels like. I know for myself I need that reminder. Growing up taking part in communion had at times become just this empty ritual. It wasn't something I though much of. But now, now I see it for what it is. We have a God who loves us beyond comprehension that gave His Son to us to die so He could rise and conquer death so that we may be with God for eternity.
Don't allow communion to become common place for you. Don't allow it to become just something that you do during worship. Instead, celebrate it with every chance you have to take part in it. Let it truly serve as that reminder of who Christ is and what He has done for you.
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