". . . little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,

I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver . . ."

(William Shakespeare's Othello, I.iii.88-90)

Friday, June 1, 2007

Home

A few nights ago I sang "Jesus Loves Me" to my 3-year-old. It was certainly not the first time I have ever done so, but I think it was the first time in a while that I have sung to him all three stanzas (at least the three stanzas I know):

Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me, He who died
Heaven's gates to open wide.
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me, He will stay
Close beside me all the way.
If I love him, when I die
He will take me home on high.

After I finished singing, Evan beamed at me and said, "Mommy, Jesus will take me home." I affirmed that yes, indeed, Jesus would take him home, and we talked about how right now we are living in our earthly home but that some day Jesus will take us to our forever home in heaven. As we continued the nightly bedtime ritual--stories, kisses & prayers--Evan several more times interrupted the proceedings to announce again, "Mommy, Jesus will take me home." And in the last few days he has come to me over and over to state, "Mommy, Jesus will take me home." I wish I could bottle the look on his face as he speaks these words: I find myself humbled by the pure trust and joy that I see there.

Evan has a pretty nice home here on earth. He has plenty to eat, a warm bed to sleep in, a dog to play with, a bedroom full of toys and books, a swingset in his back yard, and a long list of people who love him dearly. He has few worries, knowing that Mom and Dad will provide for all that he truly needs. So I find it remarkable how quickly he latched on to the idea that he has another home beside this one, that it is a place he wants to be and that Jesus will take him there. Yet why should I find it so remarkable? Evan is one of Jesus' little lambs, baptized into his Saviour's holy name, and he recognizes his Shepherd's voice. Even now, at the tender age of 3, there is something within him that knows that his true home is not of this world but with his Saviour in heaven, and he longs for the day when he will see that Saviour face to face. May each of us look with that same childlike anticipation to the day that our Lord will gather us in His arms and take us to our forever home.

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:3)

3 comments:

Presbytera said...

I am reminded of Psalm 8:2 "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise." What greater confession of praise exists than the statement "Jesus will take me home."?

Elephantschild said...

Your story also sheds an interesting light on all those who feel that one must understand before they make a decision for Christ.

What beautiful faith!

The Hen (Charity) said...

The older I get the harder it is to sing this sweet song with out tears coming to my eyes. For just the reason you mentioned. Little ones have been given faith from the Holy Spirit and await going home the same why we do.