Precious Moments

I cherish the "Precious Moments" of life! No, not the adorable, collectible figurines like the one pictured above from Google's images, although I do enjoy those . . . but real life moments that can only be called "precious." Those unexpected moments that touch you deep in your heart, make you smile, and then are filed away in your mind's memory album under the heading: So Glad I Didn't Miss That One!

Every Wednesday afternoon I hear a knock - a certain knock - on the door and know that the little boy from next door is here to "visit" and to make sure we're going to church for Caravans and Bible Study. Since I have been sick for several days, I opened the door and told him I couldn't go to church and that I didn't think he should come into my germ-filled house. He stood there and listened with his hands behind his back. I wondered what he was holding. You never know!! I didn't have to wait long to find out that he was holding his big, black Bible.

I knew something was on his mind, so I quickly said, "We can visit out here under the carport for a few minutes."

So we sat down on the old camp-meeting bench, he opened his Bible, looked at me and asked, "Did your sons ever work on Sunday?" Just that matter of factly! I could tell this was going to be one of those "Lord-help-me-to-say-the-right-thing moments!"

"Yes, they did," I answered, "but I didn't like it."

He pulled his Bible up closer to him and began to read: Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you . . . nor your son or daughter . . . "

So, we talked . . . about the fact that the Ten Commandments haven't changed . . . God still intends for us to obey them . . . and about today's culture requiring some people to work on Sunday for the well being of others . . . but we should worship Him and keep the day holy. He seemed to understand.

He told me about someone who had stolen, then said as he pointed to another verse, "It says here thou shalt not steal."

"Yes," I replied. "That's one of them, too. And so, we shouldn't even take a pencil or a penny that isn't ours."

As he flipped through his Bible, he turned to the front pages where family records are kept. He said that he didn't quite understand one page and turned to the one that referred to "Holy Matrimony." With a smile I told him that's where he would write his and his wife's names when he married. He didn't linger on that page too long!

I noticed that on the page labeled "Deaths," he had written one word: Nana. A few weeks ago his grandmother died, and it was so very hard for him. On that occasion his question to me was: Why do we have to die?

Oh, my! How do you answer that adequately for an eight-year-old boy? I tried to answer him as simply and honestly as I could but ended by saying, "When you get to heaven, you can ask Jesus!"

His reply: You'll get there first, so you can ask Him!

Today I encouraged him to keep reading his Bible . . . maybe read Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, I suggested. By this time, I was getting really hoarse, so I sent him on his way - or in his words: You ran me off!

Those brief moments were like a breath of fresh air - literally - and figuratively speaking! Do I always take the time to sit and "visit" like I did today? Not always. But I'm so glad I did today. I wouldn't trade those "precious moments" for anything!!

(I usually include a line or two of a song from my heart here. Today I think a prayer of my heart is more appropriate.

Oh, God, help me to never get so busy that I push aside a child who wants to know more about You and Your Word. Give me patience, discernment, and the right words to say. Help me to love them as You do and to see them through Your eyes. May I never forget that when I have shown love to one of "the least of these," then I have shown love to You.

Amen.