July/August 2007

“Here I Come, Grandpa!”

Benjamin stood at the top of the stairs looking down at me. An incredible smile crossed his face. The smile said "watch this". He was ready to take the first big step and head down the stairs, very quickly. His little legs were too short to navigate the stairs in a regular cadence so it was evident that after he touched the first step, he would be flying. His confidence was contagious but I knew the end result. I had seen that same smile about 25 years ago when his mother, Shannon had the same idea. What intrigued me was that my response had not changed. The same soft, calm, soothing, encouraging words came out of my mouth Stop! No! I ran up the stairs faster than a speeding bullet and grabbed his hand. Grandpa's can still move quickly when they have to, but only when they have to (ask the softball team). After I steadied him, we walked down the stairs smoothly and with confidence.

This has been a common scene in my house, but I have also been at the bottom of the stairs when Benjamin has sat down and cried because he was afraid to come down. Even with Grandpa at his side the stairs looked too steep and too impossible, so I had to pick him up and carry him down, or we would still be sitting there months later. Children have a wonderful way of teaching us. Throughout the Gospels we are reminded by Jesus to watch and follow the example of children.

Matthew 18:3 And he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."

There have been many times in my life when I have been at the top of the stairs ready to head down with reckless abandon, all by myself. I thought I could do something on my own and realized in the first steps, that I was in over my head. I fell hard and bounced before I bothered to look and see that the Lord was standing there with his hand out, wanting to guide and hold me up.

Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

I have also stood at the top of the stairs afraid to move, confident that I could not do it. It was then that the Lord took my hand and reminded me that his word teaches us that "He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20) And that we can do all things through Christ who give us strength. (Philippians 4:13)

I don't know what you are facing in your life today. You may have decided you don't need God. You may have decided that even God couldn't help you. Wherever your heart is, as you stand at the top of the stairs, I pray that you would yield your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. Depend on him and have confidence in Him. Won't you pray right now, reach out your hand to the Savior and let him lead you.

Pastor Craig