Daily Devotionals

Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life

Devotional: November 7th

If you ever get the chance to make it to Stamping Ground, Kentucky, be sure to take in one of Central Kentucky's finest little establishments. Melissa's Country Cooking, as far as I know, is the only restaurant in Stamping Ground, but, as Andy Griffith would say, "It's a good'n." It's located on Main Street in the first floor of the Ruritan Building on the right as you head north out of town. If you're fortunate you may get to meet the same cherubic presence I did just recently. You may get to meet Jordan Hopkins.

When I entered the restaurant the other day I was met by this little face peering over the check out counter. I was fascinated by what I was seeing. There before my eyes was a beautiful little girl putting napkins into a napkin dispenser with all the aplomb of a pro. I went on over and found a seat and saw an adult women in her late twenties or early thirties head toward me preparing to grab some silverware and a menu for me. The little napkin loader beat her to the punch and brought me my silverware and menu. I was impressed. The adult server beamed.

As the server took my drink order the little girl headed to the drink station and filled a glass with ice and my drink selection and brought it to me with a youthful grace. That's when I found out that my little server was the seven year old daughter of the adult server. That's when I found out the mother was home schooling her daughter and had brought her to work with her. That's when I found out that this little angel always came prepared to help out however she could. That's when I was introduced to Jordan Hopkins.

In an age when most kids would be bored out of their skulls and whining and complaining about not being able to watch TV or play their video games, Jordan was a breath of fresh air. She wanted to help and was actually quite good at it. To find a genuine servant spirit in a child that young is rare. She seemed wrapped up in the idea that she could be doing her mother's work. She was intensely interested in, I guess you would say, being all about her mother's business. These are the ones who are so easily led into an understanding of Jesus as Savior. They have already embraced His Spirit. All they need to do is understand His grace.

Jesus Himself was such a child. You may be familiar with the story in Luke 2. The twelve year old child got separated from His parents on the trip home from Jerusalem and was finally found in the temple at Jerusalem talking with the teachers. When asked about His laxness of staying with the caravan, His reply was straightforward. "Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?" Luke 2:49 I don't know how long it will be. Maybe it's already happened. One day little Jordan Hopkins will trade her apron for her Bible and be about her Father's business.