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Hello, my dear friends. It's so good to be at the computer again. Recent weeks have kept me quite busy working out what I am determined to do…spend much quality time with my grandchildren. Have I mentioned recently that I'm blessed to have thirty plus? It can be exhausting, but so very rewarding.
I had determined at the start of this year to implement a new plan of action with my grandkids, so that they might know and remember that grandma loves them so much. The plan is to have a different grandchild come and spend the night with me on a regular, weekly basis. By doing so, they will have all of my attention for a night and well into the following day. I've tried to have fun games on hand, art projects, crafts, puzzles and the like, in order to do these things together and make great memories along the way. Because of the size of our family, we have so often done family things in large numbers. While that is wonderful, this one on one time has been so dear to my heart, and to the hearts of my dear grandchildren, I believe.
On a recent sleepover, my seven-year-old grandson and I played "Sorry" together. He has mastered that game and beats me everytime. We laughed a lot. When we were getting ready to go to bed, (and a sleepover means that the grandchild sleeps with grandma in her bed) I noticed my precious grandson had opened one of my Bibles and was reading intently. He informed me that he reads his Bible every night before he goes to sleep. My heart was so warmed, to say the least. I told him that in the morning, we would read some together. By morning, he was sitting, waiting, Bible opened. I took him to Matthew, chapter 21.
Jesus walked by a barren fig tree, stopped, looked at it, and then cursed the tree, saying, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately, the tree withered up. Astonishing! But what's this about? Jesus' disciples, witnessing this cursing of the fig tree, were amazed and asked Jesus the meaning of this. Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it."
My young, enthusiastic grandson wanted to know more. I asked him if he thinks that Jesus really meant that he could point to a mountain and say 'Move!' and it would move. He giggled and said he didn't think that would happen. Whew! I explained to him that our 'mountains' may be anything in our lives that troubles us and gets in the way of us following Jesus. Simply put…anything that is a problem for us and keeps us from seeing God. He seemed to get it. We prayed then, and went on with our day together.
On the ride home, my little guy said he didn't want to go home, because he gets in trouble at home. I told him that if he has problems, he should pray for the other person and see God change his heart. He looked me squarely in the eyes and said, "Move mountains?" Let me say, my heart was doing hallelujah flips inside! He got it! He understood what we as adults often miss! He recognized that if a mountain is looming overhead, insurmountable, we simply exercise our belief in God to move it or take it away, and He will. Jesus always rewards our faith. My too often unbelieving heart was rejoicing to see the faith of a child, my own grandson. I was so very blessed! And here, I thought I was on an agenda to bless these little ones, but instead, found myself blessed almost beyond my ability to contain it all.
While my motive in having my grandchildren with me overnight, one at a time, is still my motive, there's more now. These are treasured times together, but now, an even higher priority for me is to help them see Jesus in their everyday lives. As I sit at my computer writing this morning, the noise of eggs turning in my incubator behind me is speaking clearly to my own heart.
I'm counting down the days until these eggs hatch and the new life inside emerges. Isn't that just quite a miracle? Dear soul reading today, look for the miraculous among the seemingly mundane. God is present in our world everyday in every way. His desire for us is to have faith to see Him working in our lives always. He wants us to have faith like a small child. The only stipulation is that we have faith, and don't doubt.
Lord, I just want to thank You today for the blessing of grandchildren who have a faith so pure, taking You at Your Word. They bless me and help me to remember that miracles are all around me. I can see them more clearly now, through the eyes of a small child. Thank You for reminding me, through my grandson, that we need only believe, and not doubt, and we will see you at work in even the mundane things of life, which are truly miraculous, after all. Once You have touched our lives, we should never be the same. Oh, to have the faith of a child. May You help my unbelief melt away, and may I see mountains move all around me, simply because I trust You to be Lord. In Jesus' precious name, I pray, with thanksgiving. Amen and Amen.
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Debby Renninger is a freelance writer and inspirational speaker. She holds a Bible study in her home in McVeytown, where seeking women are always welcome. She may be reached at (717) 250-7086 for speaking engagements.