Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.’”
Mark 10: 14-16 (NIV)“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1: 26a-27 (NKJV)
Her birthday is in two days—July 9. Our elder Granddaughter, Hannah.
We were there the day she was born twenty-six years ago.
Our younger granddaughter’s twenty-first birthday is next month. Ellie.
We were also there the day she was born.
Their Mimi and I have picture albums, notes, electronic recordings, paintings, cards, and books of the moments of their lives occupying shelves, walls, cabinets, drawers, easels, and boxes throughout our home. And memories of thousands of miles traveled to be with them.
Precious memories of sacred moments through the years which have flown by.
The first time their Mimi held them in her arms, she said all she could remember from each moment was saying to each of them— “You took my breath away!”
Sacred lives who could always trust us to help them be their best, against what they may hear from others in the world around them, to their detriment, in years to come.
There are no more important moments through the years we are blessed and committed to live here on earth, than in those moments we have spent lifting, protecting, and loving those sacred trusts of our children, grandchildren, Godchildren, and children everywhere God brings before us.
I am reminded of a moment in January 1994 in Atlanta, Georgia. Lynda and I were Governor and First Lady of the Florida District of Kiwanis with its 350 Kiwanis Clubs in Florida, all tasked with the Kiwanis mission of “Serving the Children of the World.”
Governors of the other 42 Kiwanis Districts and countries around the world, representing hundreds of thousands of Kiwanians, were with us in attendance at our meeting at the downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel. It was also the celebration of “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day” around our nation.
We took a break from our meetings while the parade in downtown Atlanta was passing by in front of our hotel.
I walked downstairs to the front entrance and began to watch the parade, and became aware of a precious young Black boy, maybe 7 or 8 years old, standing to my right also watching the parade.
As I turned to look at him, he turned to me—and we both smiled and waved at each other, then continued to enjoy the parade.
Later, I wondered how many years it would be before someone told him that I, or someone like me, wasn’t his friend, couldn’t be trusted—because of the color of my skin.
I was different. And a wave of sadness overwhelmed me.
Two people, each created in the image of God, with God’s desire that they become all He created them to be. Smiling, waving at each other, and enjoying a parade together.
I wish that moment in January of 1994 with my new friend could be the case for all of us each day of our lives. We’re doing better. Moving past disagreements, dislikes, judgements of others because they look different, are a different race or culture, a different political ideology, business, sports, or whatever.
But we can do better, to move past all those things, which the world uses to keep us from smiling, waving, and enjoying a parade together.
Instead, remembering we are all created in the image of God, and through our faith in God, to passionately seek after hope for a world that walks together under God, seeking good for each other, and the world around us.
And hoping that every child, everywhere, of any age, would have someone in their life who feels that child is a precious gift of God—a child who “takes their breath away.”
Just one person who would hold them in their arms and bless them every moment of their life. Maybe even just smile and wave.
How I wish that were the case for “children of all ages” everywhere.
May I be so bold as to ask—Why not? Just something for us to think about.
What a wonderful world that would be.
Happy Birthday, precious Hannah.
And thank you, Lord, for the sacred gift of her life.
She still “takes our breath away!”
And thank you Lord, for the sacred gift of all the lives you have created and bless us with. Help us Lord to smile, to wave, and to lift them, with You, to be all they can be.
In His Name–Scott
Be blessed as you listen to this incredibly joy-filled arrangement of “What a Wonderful World,” by Youth Choirs in Uganda, West Los Angeles, and France, with New Orleans Blues legend, Grandpa Elliott, and guitarist, Jason Tamba, from the Congo.
