About five years ago, I wrote my first blog post as a guest on my daughter Jamie’s first blog. She was hosting an empathy series with several guest contributors. My remembrance is that I was unsure and timid about doing it, because I had not written much in a long time. She was sure that I could do it, so I stepped out of my comfort zone and wrote.
[bctt tweet=”The idea was to take a character from the Bible and try to put ourselves in their place. ” username=”GaylWright”]
Then we were to write a story from that character’s perspective as we imagined it. I think I was a little surprised that she liked it well enough to use. (Jamie has since closed that older blog. You can now find her HERE.) I have edited and updated my story to share it with you today.
The story is in no way trying to add or subtract from the Biblical narrative. It is a story of how I thought a young mother might feel as she brought her children to Jesus. The references I used are Matt. 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16 and Luke 18:15-17. I urge you to read these passages yourself to have a clearer picture.
A Mother’s Remembrance
When I remember that special day so long ago, it makes me so happy. The memory is forever embedded in my heart. My friends and I, along with our children, were hot and tired from walking all day. We had been following Jesus, trying to hear His every word.
[bctt tweet=”He was like no one else we had ever seen or heard.” username=”GaylWright”]
With authority he not only taught us, but even healed people with all kinds of diseases. Surely he was sent from God to us.
Almost crushed by the crowd, we didn’t think we would have a chance to get close to Jesus, but
WE WERE DETERMINED.
Finally, we made our way through the crowd and came up to where he was. We were beside ourselves with excitement, and the children could hardly contain themselves.
Suddenly his friends stopped us and told us to go away. They said Jesus was tired and couldn’t be bothered with children right now.
Can you imagine our surprise and disappointment at this unexpected turn of events? What a letdown!
[bctt tweet=”They must think children don’t matter much or can’t understand things, but they are sadly mistaken.” username=”GaylWright”]
They just can’t turn us away after our long day of travel. I mustered up my courage and with tears streaming down my face cried out,
Please, I beg you! I know He is tired, but we won’t take much time.
It will mean so much to the children to have been with Him.
They Would Not Budge.
We slowly turned and started to walk away when we heard Jesus talking. What was He saying – something about the children? Imagine our surprise and happiness when we realized that He actually reprimanded His friends. He said,
Don’t stop the children. Bring them to me, because the kingdom of God belongs to ones like these. It is a truth that those who do not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never be able to enter it.
Can you believe it? This wonderful teacher said that the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like little children!
Then He took each one of the children, and laying His hands on them He blessed them. How gentle, how kind and how tenderly he treated them. What a joy to this mother’s heart to see how much He loved the children!
Let’s always remember to hold our children close, never push them aside. May we lovingly teach them how much they mean to Jesus and how He loves them. May our words and actions show them how to be lovers of God, to always respect and honor Him. Remember, He first loved us.
~gsw~
I’m linking up with: #InspireMeMonday, #Grace&Truth, #TrekkingThru, #TeaAndWord, #BVNetworkParty, #TuneInThursday
Now on to our weekly linkup. First let’s meet your hosts:
Gayl at Words, Photos and Art
Blog/Facebook Page/Twitter/Pinterest/ Instagram/
Mary at Mary-andering Creatively
Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/ Instagram/Google+
Last Week’s Top Clicked
Lisa really inspires with this short post that is chalk full of truth. I especially loved this line: ““For every mess-up, there’s a grace fill-up.” This post reminds us of God’s unending grace and love. Be sure to check it out. ~Mary~
My Favorite Post
Flight delay, life delay…
by Jennifer at Tea With Jennifer
Jennifer talks about a subject many of us are familiar with, that of delays. None of us really like to be delayed, do we? But sometimes there is a very good reason. Stop by for a cuppa and read about Jennifer’s flight delay and the lesson she learned while waiting.
Would you like us to feature your post? Just link up a post and if you are read the most, we will feature you. Also please make sure you link back to our community so others will know about our link up and join in. We will try to make it worth your while to linkup by promoting your posts across our social media networks. We will also pin the most clicked and featured posts to our #LMMLinkup Pinterest Board each week!
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Finally, it is time to link up to the Literacy Musing Mondays hop!
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[bctt tweet=”Join us for the #LMMLinkup. Share your family-friendly posts about anything literacy related! ” username=”GaylWright”]
It’s so fun to remember those early days of blogging and that feeling of going into uncharted territory. In some ways, though, I’ve never lost the flutter of wondering whenever I click on “publish.”
Blessings to you, Gayl!
Yes, those early days seem so long ago…. But I know what you mean. Sometimes it seems so hard to click on publish. Blessings right back to you, dear Michele!
Oh boy, Gayl, I really love your story. I’m so glad your daughter lovingly challenged you to write with her. And I’m thrilled you dusted it off and shared it here today.
Thank you for the picture you painted in my mind this morning with your words on a page.
Blessings of delight in all you do today, in the name of Jesus Christ, who loves you.
~Lisa
Thank you, Lisa! I’m glad she challenged me, too. She’s been such an encouragement to me. I love it that my words painted a picture for you. That is so encouraging to me. 🙂 Blessings and love to you, dear sister!
Dear Gayl,
Oh, I am so glad that your daughter nudged you to share your writing all those years ago, and I’m so glad you’ve shared it with us here again! It is so amazing when we can actually look at those stories in the Bible through a closer perspective. Sometimes I think I just brush through the familiar words, forgetting that real people lived out their days with Jesus right in front of them. What a difference it makes when we look at it that way. Thank you for these beautiful thoughts about those precious children, and the Mom who loved them. Blessings, love, and hugs to you my dear friend!
Yes, I think when we look through a closer perspective it helps us think through what we are reading, realizing that they were real people just like us. It is easy just to rush through the familiar words, but slowing down and thinking about it helps us understand better, I think. Blessings, love and hugs right back to you, dear Bettie!
Gayl, It is hard to believe you were timid and unsure about your writing. You are so GIFTED in WHAT you say and THE WAY in which you say it. Beauty and truth pour from you. I’m really glad you shared this story in this way. It would never have occurred to me and it’s such a beautiful thing to ponder!
Shelby, what an encourager you are! Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the way I told the story. 🙂 Blessings to you, dear Shelby, with much love!
Thanks for taking us into the heads of the young mothers that day. I, too, imagine that they must have felt that way. Such disappointment followed by such elation! Thanks also for sharing my post on grace refills. I appreciate you and Mary hosting us!
Thanks for your encouraging comments, Lisa! May God bless you!
Gayl, this was such a precious read. I got so teary eyed reading this and thinking how wonderful that God loves children so much and that He made time for them and explained that we must come to Him as little children. Thank you for such a sweet perspective from a momma’s point of view.
Thank you, Christina. It is wonderful how much God love children, isn’t it? Oh how we need the faith and trust as a child as we look to Him. Blessings to you! Thanks for visiting.
I feel so very honored to be featured here Gayl! Thank you!
I am inspired by your writing of a mother’s perspective traveling with children for them to meet with Jesus…We as Mamas can relate to this & this has so many applications & truths for today with our families! We constantly travel with our children/grandchildren in prayer for them to meet Jesus! Great job!
Blessings,
Jennifer
You are quite welcome, Jennifer! You message is so important to all of us.
I am so glad you were inspired. : Children mean a lot to me. I have always loved them. Even when I was still a child I loved those younger than me and always took time with them.
Thank you so much for your encouragement! Blessings to you, Jennifer!
Gayl, I loved reading your start to blogging and your post. Yes, our children are important to Jesus, and we should follow his example. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Christian LInk-Up. It is fun posting on each others link-up. I always look forward to seeing yours come through.
Thank you, Maree! I always enjoy your posts, too! Blessings and love to you!
Jesus has a special place in His heart for children! And I love how you brought that to life, Gayl! Thanks for sharing with us!
Thank you for your encouragement, Beth. Blessings to you!
Love this idea and the wonderful story born out of it. Thanks for the reminder of how precious ALL God’s children are to him 🙂
Thank you, Toni! Yes, all His children are precious. Blessings to you! Thanks for visiting.
Thank you for the beautiful perspective! We’re trying to make a decision at our school right now about a student, and this reminds me of our mission.
Thank you, Anita. I pray for wisdom in your decision. Blessings to you!
This is beautiful Gayl. The stories of the Bible really come alive when we imagine ourselves in them.
Thank you so much, Aminata! Blessings to you!
Gayle – I always love putting myself in the sandals of Bible Characters (so to speak. I like your perspective and enjoyed reading your take from a mothers perspective traveling with her kids and Jesus! We are neighbors at #BVN today and I hope you are going to also link it up with #TuneinThursday too 🙂 Blessings
Thanks for your encouraging comment, Debbie! Blessings to you! I will hop on over to #TuneInThursday and link up. 🙂