the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Daily Devotionals
Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
Every Sunday morning at the Minorsville Christian Chruch I know that at least one person will be paying attention to me as I preach. Every Sunday morning this young lady's eyes follow me as I preach. Her head comes to attention at the sound of my voice. There are those odd times that she sleeps. But then she is only eleven months old.
Ellie Morgan Hastings was born last year on February 10. She was an instant hit with my wife as February 10 is my wife's birthday. For some reason, from the time she was able to focus her eyes, she has watched me intently. Her extended family is all there for her; her great grandparents, grandparents and aunt and uncle. Every time I look in the direction of her family there are those two eyes watching me so closely.
Drawing from her first and middle name her Uncle Scott dubbed her "Elmo." Every card we've received from her (her parents send out cards on her behalf; it is the sweetest thing) is an official Sesame Street Elmo card. She even wears Sesame Street Elmo clothing from time to time. But she pays such careful attention to her preacher when he preaches.
"Then the little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for if such is the kingdom of heaven.' " Matthew 19:13, 14 Many parents shuttle children Ellie's age off to the nursery thinking that she has no place in the sanctuary. They're wrong.
The interest that Ellie has right now in church, the way that she watches and sits still, the fact that she is there and not "acting up" like the other children is testimony to what I have always believed. Infants only leave the worship service because adults don't want them there. The lessons that Ellie is learning now will make her a much more attentive and involved child years from now. Let the little children come to the Lord and watch what happens in the years to come.
'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' Copyright 2010 © Tom Kelley. 'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each story, along with their complete bio and a link to https://www.studylight.org/ 2) 'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' content may not be arranged or "mirrored" as a competitive online service.
