Read Matthew 19:13-26
When I was a young boy I attended a Vacation Bible School held at Riverdale Baptist church in Riverdale Maryland. I am not sure how or why I attended this class as my parents were not church going people and would not have thought to take me. The church was two blocks from my house so I could have just wandered in or maybe went with a friend. The important thing is I did attend that Bible School class and I look back on that day as the start of my walk with the Lord. As all classes for young children, I learned the stories of Jesus, his love for us, that we could talk to Jesus though prayer that He was our Lord and Savior and we were his children whom He dearly loved.
A couple years later my mother, who was pregnant with my sister Theresa contracted double pneumonia and became quite ill. The doctors told my father she would die and to be prepared for her death. When my father told me what was going to happen I was devastated. How would I survive without my mother? I was only nine years old and I was in a panic. Then I remembered the lessons from that Bible School class, how we could pray to Jesus and how he would answer our prayers. Well I prayed and prayed, night and day, my prayers became all consuming. As I look back on it now I am sure that Jesus must have been impressed with a little boy who loved his mother so much. Well, Jesus answered my prayers, the doctors said a new procedure had saved my mother’s life, but I knew better. Jesus had answered my prayers and I never forgot it.
My mother experienced several other health crises through out her life and I prayed hard each time. The last illness caused her death and while deeply grieved, I was old enough to understand that Jesus had taken her home to rest from a hard life
One of my favorite poems is “Footprints”, the story of Jesus, our companion, walking with us throughout our lives, caring for us through times of trouble.
I am 64 years old now and my understanding of Jesus is a little more mature now than that of a nine year old child. I am a work in progress, not finished by a long shot, but throughout the intervening years, in good times and bad, Jesus has been with me, in my heart, and walking beside me.
The comfort I have in knowing Jesus is indescribable, having a relationship with Jesus is the most important part of my life, I am neither wealthy nor famous, but I am blessed, loved, and completely at peace with myself, all because 57 years ago I attended a Vacation Bible School where I learned about, and accepted Jesus Christ, as my Lord and Savior.
P.S. Be aware that as we go through life that we can have a prfound effect on other people as children of God, especially the children with whom we come in contact. Every meeting is an opportunity, you never know the impact you could have on a person's life, only God knows that.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for those who teach our children, so that they know that through you all things are possible. Amen.
Prayer Conecern: those who work with children.
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