Last night I snuggled up in bed next to my littlest Chinese daughters to read them a Bible story before they fell asleep. Victoria and I try to do this with them on some regularity, although we must confess that oftentimes we're either too tired or just down right too lazy. Overall, ashamedly, we're not very disciplined about good things like this but, rather than just give up, we keep trying to re-engage with the hope that God will multiply even our undisciplined efforts.
But last night Victoria was doing something else around the house right around bedtime so I opened their Bible (for Children with fun water color cartoon drawings) and asked them what story they wanted to read. Funny, but they're usually fairly particular about which one they want to hear that night, especially Poppy. This time she chose to read about The Last Supper and Jesus' crucifixion. When we got to the part where the cartoon was of three silhouette crosses on a hilltop, while Poppy sat there staring at the picture with her big, brown round eyes and fingers in mouth, Willow asked, "Is that Jesus?", pointing to the middle cross. (You lose something in the translation here because Willow's wearing the cutest braided pigtails, is darker than a coffee bean from swimming all weekend in the hot sun - in spite of slathering on massive amounts of sunscreen, and has a high-pitch, slurred speech that makes you want to squeeze her to death because she's so dang cute.) I answered, "Yes." She then asked if the two people on either side of the center cross were Jesus' friends. I told her that one was and the other wasn't. Then she asked if they were dead. I said they were, but that Jesus and one of his friends were alive and together with one another, and the other was not. Willow then said, "When I die, then I will be Jesus' friend too."
Man alive! Or "Man dead", depending upon how you look at this. Willow's right, you know. "I am crucified with Christ", says the Bible (Galatians 2:20a). Jesus demands everything, including life itself (at least as we naturally love it and know it). And furthermore, Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) To be my friend He had to die, and to be His friend I must die.
"Willow, when you're old enough we pray that you will one day be Jesus' friend, more than what you are already. But you are right you cute little three year old - you must die first. Jesus has already died for you, and one day you will be asked to die for Him. When you hear His voice (and you will know it when you hear it - trust us), remember that He's said to you, 'The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.' (Luke 18:27) And then remember that He's also said to you, '... everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.' (Matthew 19:29) And then Willow, when you die, you will be born again and will be a true friend of Jesus, forever."
"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dying to live,
But last night Victoria was doing something else around the house right around bedtime so I opened their Bible (for Children with fun water color cartoon drawings) and asked them what story they wanted to read. Funny, but they're usually fairly particular about which one they want to hear that night, especially Poppy. This time she chose to read about The Last Supper and Jesus' crucifixion. When we got to the part where the cartoon was of three silhouette crosses on a hilltop, while Poppy sat there staring at the picture with her big, brown round eyes and fingers in mouth, Willow asked, "Is that Jesus?", pointing to the middle cross. (You lose something in the translation here because Willow's wearing the cutest braided pigtails, is darker than a coffee bean from swimming all weekend in the hot sun - in spite of slathering on massive amounts of sunscreen, and has a high-pitch, slurred speech that makes you want to squeeze her to death because she's so dang cute.) I answered, "Yes." She then asked if the two people on either side of the center cross were Jesus' friends. I told her that one was and the other wasn't. Then she asked if they were dead. I said they were, but that Jesus and one of his friends were alive and together with one another, and the other was not. Willow then said, "When I die, then I will be Jesus' friend too."
Man alive! Or "Man dead", depending upon how you look at this. Willow's right, you know. "I am crucified with Christ", says the Bible (Galatians 2:20a). Jesus demands everything, including life itself (at least as we naturally love it and know it). And furthermore, Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) To be my friend He had to die, and to be His friend I must die.
"Willow, when you're old enough we pray that you will one day be Jesus' friend, more than what you are already. But you are right you cute little three year old - you must die first. Jesus has already died for you, and one day you will be asked to die for Him. When you hear His voice (and you will know it when you hear it - trust us), remember that He's said to you, 'The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.' (Luke 18:27) And then remember that He's also said to you, '... everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.' (Matthew 19:29) And then Willow, when you die, you will be born again and will be a true friend of Jesus, forever."
"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dying to live,
1 comment:
These are precious moments we get to share with our daughters! We always try to read Ella a story from the kid's Bible before bed and it leads to the best conversations we have with her. Hearing about your adoption experiences is a great encouragement.
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