Jean Coleman's Blog - Posts Tagged "children"
MORE THAN ENOUGH
Her shopping completed, a young mother stood in front of the grocery store with her four small children and overflowing cart. It had been a long morning and the youngsters were tired and fussy. She sighed as she contemplated the challenge of getting the children and groceries into the car.
Just then she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find one of the older women from the church smiling at her. "You look like you have your hands full," her friend said. "I'm sure it isn't easy to raise four children in this day and age."
As the two women continued to talk together, the children stayed close to their mother's side. The smallest boy clutched the hem of her garment tightly in his hand like a security blanket. He wasn't about to let her out of his sight.
It was obvious that the mother was very much aware of her little brood at her feet. Every few moments she would stretch out her hand to stroke a child's hair or to hoist up a pair of drooping jeans. She opened her purse and took out a tissue to wipe a runny nose and a few minutes later she bent down to tie a shoelace. There was no doubt about it, she was love in action.
The older woman watched all of this mothering with great interest and finally asked a very pointed question: "How do you manage to divide your love among so many children?"
The young mother was instant in season with the answer. "I don't divide it. I multiply it. Then there's always plenty of love to go around."
What a tremendous number of children there are in the family of God. Our Heavenly Father has a multitude of sons and daughters composed of every kindred and tribe scattered all across the face of the earth. "How do you divide Your love among so many children, Lord?" we might be tempted to ask. And God replies, "I don't divide it. I multiply it!"
Isn't it wonderful that God has more than enough love to go around. There is always more than enough love for everyone. He gives and gives and still has more love to give.
And the Lord is always very much aware of those little ones who stand close to Him, holding tightly to His garment of righteous. His hand is always outstretched to comfort one of His children or to apply discipline when necessary. When the shoelaces of our lives get all tangled up, He is there to help us straighten things out.
Multiplied love! Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish the day he fed the multitude and there was plenty of food for everyone. There was even enough food left over that the disciples were able to fill twelve baskets with the fragments. It's interesting to note that there were twelve baskets and also twelve disciples. Not a one of the disciples went away empty-handed or empty-hearted. The love of Jesus never runs out. It just keeps on multiplying.
As disciples we are also called upon to share a lot of love with others. We reach out to the hurting and wounded, loving them with the love of the Lord. The miracle is that we give and give and yet there is always more of God's love on reserve within us. The multiplying God never ceases to multiply His love in us and through us.
Our amazing God always has more than enough!
Just then she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find one of the older women from the church smiling at her. "You look like you have your hands full," her friend said. "I'm sure it isn't easy to raise four children in this day and age."
As the two women continued to talk together, the children stayed close to their mother's side. The smallest boy clutched the hem of her garment tightly in his hand like a security blanket. He wasn't about to let her out of his sight.
It was obvious that the mother was very much aware of her little brood at her feet. Every few moments she would stretch out her hand to stroke a child's hair or to hoist up a pair of drooping jeans. She opened her purse and took out a tissue to wipe a runny nose and a few minutes later she bent down to tie a shoelace. There was no doubt about it, she was love in action.
The older woman watched all of this mothering with great interest and finally asked a very pointed question: "How do you manage to divide your love among so many children?"
The young mother was instant in season with the answer. "I don't divide it. I multiply it. Then there's always plenty of love to go around."
What a tremendous number of children there are in the family of God. Our Heavenly Father has a multitude of sons and daughters composed of every kindred and tribe scattered all across the face of the earth. "How do you divide Your love among so many children, Lord?" we might be tempted to ask. And God replies, "I don't divide it. I multiply it!"
Isn't it wonderful that God has more than enough love to go around. There is always more than enough love for everyone. He gives and gives and still has more love to give.
And the Lord is always very much aware of those little ones who stand close to Him, holding tightly to His garment of righteous. His hand is always outstretched to comfort one of His children or to apply discipline when necessary. When the shoelaces of our lives get all tangled up, He is there to help us straighten things out.
Multiplied love! Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish the day he fed the multitude and there was plenty of food for everyone. There was even enough food left over that the disciples were able to fill twelve baskets with the fragments. It's interesting to note that there were twelve baskets and also twelve disciples. Not a one of the disciples went away empty-handed or empty-hearted. The love of Jesus never runs out. It just keeps on multiplying.
As disciples we are also called upon to share a lot of love with others. We reach out to the hurting and wounded, loving them with the love of the Lord. The miracle is that we give and give and yet there is always more of God's love on reserve within us. The multiplying God never ceases to multiply His love in us and through us.
Our amazing God always has more than enough!
THE DIME STORE DOLLY
Debbie’s eyes were aglow with delight as she caught her first glimpse of the Christmas tree in the early morning light. We had determined that this year was going to be the biggest and best Christmas ever and we had spared no expense to purchase a multitude of toys designed to thrill the heart of our daughter.
Our two year old must have thought she was in a toy store as she viewed the display of merchandise awaiting her. Debbie just stood there trying to take it all in—the rocking horse, the puzzles, the child-size kitchen set, the balls and dolls. She seemed to be completely overwhelmed by the vast array spread out before her.
Then she noticed her Christmas stocking hanging from the mantel. Eagerly she ran over, took it down, and carefully began to remove the contents of the stocking one item at a time. She examined each piece of candy and every little toy. We tried to hurry her along, anxious for her to pay attention to the wonderful, expensive toys under the tree.
Finally the stocking appeared to be empty. But wait—what’s this? Reaching way down deep into the toe, Debbie had discovered a tiny plastic baby doll with a wee bed and blanket, and a microscopic baby bottle. We had purchased the little doll at the dime store on Christmas Eve for a quarter. It was one of those last minute impulse things, but Debbie was captivated by it. She wouldn’t put the little doll down.
We urged her to come and see all the other toys, but she wouldn’t budge. All she wanted was the tiny baby with its little bottle and bed. Debbie continued to sit on the floor taking the doll in and out of its bed, covering it with the tiny blanket. Time passed.
After a while, we began to get impatient. Hundreds of dollars of the finest toys available sat untouched under the tree, and all Debbie wanted was the tiny baby with its little bottle and bed. We tried to draw her attention to the toy kitchen with its many working parts, but to no avail. The tiny baby had stolen Debbie’s heart. She had eyes for nothing else.
Oh that the Babe of Bethlehem might steal our hearts this Christmas. In the midst of all the commercialism, bright lights and tinsel, let us turn our eyes upon Jesus. There are so many things that seek to draw our affection away from the Holy Child in the manger. We often have to look past Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman and decorated trees to find the real reason for Christmas.
The temptation is there to look at the big, the bright, the beautiful, the exciting. Look here! See the newest, the greatest! See the most expensive, the most advanced. Look here! Leave the Baby! Look what’s over here!
But let us never forget that the greatest Christmas gift ever given to men came wrapped in human flesh in the form of a tiny baby. May God grant us child-like faith to turn away from everything else that the world has to offer to embrace His precious gift—a baby named Jesus.
From the book
"Following in His Footsteps"
by Jean Coleman
Our two year old must have thought she was in a toy store as she viewed the display of merchandise awaiting her. Debbie just stood there trying to take it all in—the rocking horse, the puzzles, the child-size kitchen set, the balls and dolls. She seemed to be completely overwhelmed by the vast array spread out before her.
Then she noticed her Christmas stocking hanging from the mantel. Eagerly she ran over, took it down, and carefully began to remove the contents of the stocking one item at a time. She examined each piece of candy and every little toy. We tried to hurry her along, anxious for her to pay attention to the wonderful, expensive toys under the tree.
Finally the stocking appeared to be empty. But wait—what’s this? Reaching way down deep into the toe, Debbie had discovered a tiny plastic baby doll with a wee bed and blanket, and a microscopic baby bottle. We had purchased the little doll at the dime store on Christmas Eve for a quarter. It was one of those last minute impulse things, but Debbie was captivated by it. She wouldn’t put the little doll down.
We urged her to come and see all the other toys, but she wouldn’t budge. All she wanted was the tiny baby with its little bottle and bed. Debbie continued to sit on the floor taking the doll in and out of its bed, covering it with the tiny blanket. Time passed.
After a while, we began to get impatient. Hundreds of dollars of the finest toys available sat untouched under the tree, and all Debbie wanted was the tiny baby with its little bottle and bed. We tried to draw her attention to the toy kitchen with its many working parts, but to no avail. The tiny baby had stolen Debbie’s heart. She had eyes for nothing else.
Oh that the Babe of Bethlehem might steal our hearts this Christmas. In the midst of all the commercialism, bright lights and tinsel, let us turn our eyes upon Jesus. There are so many things that seek to draw our affection away from the Holy Child in the manger. We often have to look past Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman and decorated trees to find the real reason for Christmas.
The temptation is there to look at the big, the bright, the beautiful, the exciting. Look here! See the newest, the greatest! See the most expensive, the most advanced. Look here! Leave the Baby! Look what’s over here!
But let us never forget that the greatest Christmas gift ever given to men came wrapped in human flesh in the form of a tiny baby. May God grant us child-like faith to turn away from everything else that the world has to offer to embrace His precious gift—a baby named Jesus.
From the book
"Following in His Footsteps"
by Jean Coleman
MORE THAN ENOUGH - A LOVE STORY
Her shopping completed, a young mother stood in front of the grocery store with her four small children and overflowing cart. It had been a long morning and the youngsters were tired and fussy. She sighed as she contemplated the challenge of getting the children and groceries into the car.
Just then she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find one of the older women from the church smiling at her. "You look like you have your hands full," her friend said. "I'm sure it isn't easy to raise four children in this day and age."
As the two women continued to talk together, the children stayed close to their mother's side. The smallest boy clutched the hem of her garment tightly in his hand like a security blanket. He wasn't about to let her out of his sight.
It was obvious that the mother was very much aware of her little brood at her feet. Every few moments she would stretch out her hand to stroke a child's hair or to hoist up a pair of drooping jeans. She opened her purse and took out a tissue to wipe a runny nose and a few minutes later she bent down to tie a shoelace. There was no doubt about it, she was love in action.
The older woman watched all of this mothering with great interest and finally asked a very pointed question: "How do you manage to divide your love among so many children?"
The young mother was instant in season with the answer. "I don't divide it. I multiply it. Then there's always plenty of love to go around."
What a tremendous number of children there are in the family of God. Our Heavenly Father has a multitude of sons and daughters composed of every kindred and tribe scattered all across the face of the earth. "How do you divide Your love among so many children, Lord?" we might be tempted to ask. And God replies, "I don't divide it. I multiply it!"
Isn't it wonderful that God has more than enough love to go around. There is always more than enough love for everyone. He gives and gives and still has more love to give.
And the Lord is always very much aware of those little ones who stand close to Him, holding tightly to His garment of righteous. His hand is always outstretched to comfort one of His children or to apply discipline when necessary. When the shoelaces of our lives get all tangled up, He is there to help us straighten things out.
Multiplied love! Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish the day he fed the multitude and there was plenty of food for everyone. There was even enough food left over that the disciples were able to fill twelve baskets with the fragments. It's interesting to note that there were twelve baskets and also twelve disciples. Not a one of the disciples went away empty-handed or empty-hearted. The love of Jesus never runs out. It just keeps on multiplying.
As disciples we are also called upon to share a lot of love with others. We reach out to the hurting and wounded, loving them with the love of the Lord. The miracle is that we give and give and yet there is always more of God's love on reserve within us. The multiplying God never ceases to multiply His love in us and through us.
Our amazing God always has more than enough!
by Jean Coleman
Author of "Chapter 29 Revisited"
http://www.amazon.com/Chapter-29-Revi...
Just then she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find one of the older women from the church smiling at her. "You look like you have your hands full," her friend said. "I'm sure it isn't easy to raise four children in this day and age."
As the two women continued to talk together, the children stayed close to their mother's side. The smallest boy clutched the hem of her garment tightly in his hand like a security blanket. He wasn't about to let her out of his sight.
It was obvious that the mother was very much aware of her little brood at her feet. Every few moments she would stretch out her hand to stroke a child's hair or to hoist up a pair of drooping jeans. She opened her purse and took out a tissue to wipe a runny nose and a few minutes later she bent down to tie a shoelace. There was no doubt about it, she was love in action.
The older woman watched all of this mothering with great interest and finally asked a very pointed question: "How do you manage to divide your love among so many children?"
The young mother was instant in season with the answer. "I don't divide it. I multiply it. Then there's always plenty of love to go around."
What a tremendous number of children there are in the family of God. Our Heavenly Father has a multitude of sons and daughters composed of every kindred and tribe scattered all across the face of the earth. "How do you divide Your love among so many children, Lord?" we might be tempted to ask. And God replies, "I don't divide it. I multiply it!"
Isn't it wonderful that God has more than enough love to go around. There is always more than enough love for everyone. He gives and gives and still has more love to give.
And the Lord is always very much aware of those little ones who stand close to Him, holding tightly to His garment of righteous. His hand is always outstretched to comfort one of His children or to apply discipline when necessary. When the shoelaces of our lives get all tangled up, He is there to help us straighten things out.
Multiplied love! Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish the day he fed the multitude and there was plenty of food for everyone. There was even enough food left over that the disciples were able to fill twelve baskets with the fragments. It's interesting to note that there were twelve baskets and also twelve disciples. Not a one of the disciples went away empty-handed or empty-hearted. The love of Jesus never runs out. It just keeps on multiplying.
As disciples we are also called upon to share a lot of love with others. We reach out to the hurting and wounded, loving them with the love of the Lord. The miracle is that we give and give and yet there is always more of God's love on reserve within us. The multiplying God never ceases to multiply His love in us and through us.
Our amazing God always has more than enough!
by Jean Coleman
Author of "Chapter 29 Revisited"
http://www.amazon.com/Chapter-29-Revi...
