Remember

This week, many people will reflect upon the cross, what Jesus did there & what He does for them every day, in their own personal lives. It's Easter week! He is risen!

Many of us will dye eggs, hide treasure-filled baskets for the little ones, fly kites & grill out with friends & family. Some us us will go to church & remember the holiday by participating in The Lord's Supper.

It's spring! New life!

The new baby is doing well, according to the midwife at my last appointment on Friday. We won't find out if we're having a boy or a girl until the end of April.

The daisies in my yard have popped. I took a picture of Abbie smelling one, then she asked me if she could pick it. I have two vases full of clover flowers & dandy lions on my kitchen counter already.

The barn swallows are swarming my front porch again this year. Last year they built a fairly sturdy nest over my front door & dive bombed anyone who came near. (The nest has since been knocked down--thanks Mom, for the clean up job.)

I was remembering my first experiences at church as a small child. I think I was around 4 years old. The neighbor lady, Kathie Clish, took Patti & I, along with Maryellen, Jay & Corey (ages 2-9) to vacation Bible school at her church. I remember Mom getting me up really early in the morning to get ready to go. After vacation Bible school, Mom let Patti & me go with Kathie & her kids to church every Sunday. (My parents didn't go to church at that time.) I remember the children's church meeting in the basement. I remember making arts & crafts. I remember taking a walk with my Sunday School class in the small field next to the church to gather items for a craft.

I remember getting left at church after worship service one Sunday. (Kathie had a lot of kids to handle on her own.) I was taken to the pastor's house next door, & the adults made some phone calls. Kathie came & picked me up. We laugh about it now, but it was a bit scary for a 4 year old.

My Mom was in her thirties. She didn't know the Lord yet. She was searching. I remember her inviting some Jehovah Witnesses into the house each week to talk to her. I usually hid. I didn't like them talking to me. I was afraid of strangers.

Kathie invited my Mom to an Understanding God class, so my Mom went. I don't know where I was when Mom was at these classes--maybe next door at Grandma's house. I do know that my Mom came to know Jesus as her Savior during these classes. (Then, Mom took us girls to church with her every Sunday. Eventually, Dad started coming with us, too.)

At the end of the Understanding God class, all the ladies got together for a party. The children were invited too, & we had our own little Bible class that day, down in the basement of whatever house we were at.

They told us the Easter Story from the Bible. (It didn't include a bunny.) I remember the story about Jesus dying on the cross & how God raised Him on the third day. I remember drawing a picture of an angel sitting on a big stone in front of the tomb. They told us that Jesus died for me--to pay for all the bad things I'd ever done. (If you saw my "marker picture," then you know I was bad.) We were told that all we had to do, was ask Jesus to forgive us & ask Him into our hearts & we could be forgiven. When the teacher prayed, I asked Jesus into my heart. I was only 5.

When you're a kid, things are simple. Faith comes easily. The "wisdom of the world" has not had a chance to leech simple faith from your life, yet. Maybe that's why experts quote statistics of how young people come to know the Lord more readily than us older folks. Once you hit a certain age, you've been exposed to the Truth for so long, you become numb to the Message & it's easier to say "No" to God.

I've served in different churches with young people (in spite of my kid phobia,) from newborns to teenagers. It's a blessing.

I don't really think people understand how important it is to make the Bible available to our young people. Tell them stories of Jesus. Share the Good News. Show them God's love in everyday service.

So, remember this week. Remember what Jesus did for you. And, remember to say "Thank you," to those that serve you & your children by faithfully ministering to them each week. Maybe it's time to stop saying "No" to God, and say "Yes" to serving Him by ministering to a child.

Kathie Clish was a young mother with 3 kids of her own, yet she took the time to be friends with a neighbor down the street & to take the neighbor kids to church with her.

Thanks Kathie.

Thank you Jesus, for Kathie, and for others like her who take the time to share Your Love with a child.

Mark 9:37 (NLT) "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me."