A New Treasure {a good Christmas idea}

It came in brown paper wrapping.  The best gifts do.  Unassuming.  Confident that the inside treasure is sufficient without a lot of flashy wrapping.  It was for Asher.  And me.  And all the other boys.

The Bible for little ones.  For their level.  For my level.  For all levels who enjoy story.  For all who enjoy being part of something bigger than themselves.

I wanted to slap the 3rd son on the backside with a wooden spoon as I dished out heaping hot oatmeal into bowls.  Why do we have to go to church he whined.  I wanted to tell him to be thankful for restoration and propitiation and sanctification and justification and all the other gracious-tions of the world. 

I had all but forgotten my whining to the Lord three whole minutes earlier.  Eric is out of town.  Do I have to do this by myself?  Getting us out the door on Sundays as a single parent is harder than hard.  Why do we have to go to church, I whined.

God whispered into my soul to give a quiet answer to that inquisitive third son.  Sam, do you know who John the Baptist is?  I handed him the story from the treasure book.  He read.  He learned.  His level.  He was prepared for the sermon on the same subject.

Our little community is cloaked in grief this week.  So much heartache.  So many questions that will be left unanswered.  So many prayers lifted up to the One who knows.

This little treasure reminded me that it doesn't end here.  We will one day see clearly.  The Savior-Son-Servant will remove our cloak of grief for a cloak of joy.

{The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones would make a delightful Christmas gift for a child.}