Trails of Toys and Boys

LEGO pieces hidden in the carpet, Matchbox cars parked under the couch, strange cartoons on the TV, and unflushed toilets.  It probably won't take a detective to guess little boys have been in our house.  

For two different weeks already this summer Bill and I have watched Brooks and Ford, our two youngest grandsons.  I honestly so enjoy this time and at the same time admit, it wears me out!  I grew up in a family of four girls and then had two girls so a girl world (as different as all that can be) is fairly familiar territory.  I find myself working a little harder when I'm with the boys.  Being a little more intentional in my play and thinking a little more outside "my box" requires more energy but always worth it.  

Ford, especially, wakes up and hits the ground running and really never stops until his little body is absolutely worn out (which is always after mine has worn out) and he finally falls asleep but this little guy wakes up singing and sings throughout the day.  Most of the time he is singing something he heard on Christian radio but sometimes it's a song from an ad or movie.  The funny thing is that when I am around him I find myself also singing more throughout the day and even approaching things with a little more enthusiasm.  His joy rubs off on me!

It reminds me of the story in Acts 4:  "When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus." (v.13)  In Acts 3 and 4, we see some very beautiful and amazing things happening while at the same time disagreements and grumblings brewing.  In the name of Jesus, Peter had just healed a man who had been crippled from birth but instead of celebrating the high priests (super religious leaders) wanted to know how this could happen.  Peter had given a compelling sermon and about 5000 people were saved even as he and John were put in prison for healing this man.  The religious leaders again began to question Peter and so he preached to the leaders closing with the beautiful promise in verse 12 "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."   The high priests then were found scratching their heads wondering how these uneducated, untrained men could possibly be so bold and wise and then they recognized they (Peter and John) had been with Jesus!  I don't know exactly how they recognized it but they did and could not say anything in opposition because the crippled man was standing right there!  Jesus' teachings, promises, and influence was now shaping the ministry and work of the early church through these ordinary men.  

While it is not possible for us to sit on a mountainside or under a shade tree or beside the seashore and actually see and hear Jesus teach, it is possible for us to be with Jesus as we study the Word and pray.  We can put ourselves around believers who can teach, encourage and admonish us and the world around us will notice "they have been with Jesus."  They may even catch us humming a tune!

Lord, may it be evident to the lost world around us that we are marked by Christ's love and may our love boldly prove evident that we also have been with Jesus.