In the Eyes of a Child

Years ago, a friend of mine said to me, “Tim, I know why God gave you children.  To give you writing material for your newsletter articles”.  He’s right, you know.  Raising children not only gave me material for devotions, articles and sermons, but it has given me food for thought and contemplation. 

And now the Lord has blessed us with grandchildren . . . and more food for thought and contemplation.

A few weeks ago, Lisa and I were watching several of our grandchildren.  Needing a few items for supper and wanting to get some ideas for Christmas, we took the kids into Costco.  Their eyes lit up as we walked by the rows of toys.  Going by the piles of folded clothes . . . well, not so much excitement.  But when we got to the tables holding the piles of books, Lisa and I couldn’t keep up with the children as they grabbed one book after another.  There were picture books, story books, Disney books, electronic books.  Books of all kinds!  The older grandchildren were even drawn to what I call the “coffee table books”.  You know what I’m talking about, right?  I’m talking about those huge, hardcover books with photos along with historical and biographical information . . . stuff that helps pass the time when a person is waiting. 

Our six-year-old grandson picked up one of those “coffee table books”, a book filled with photos and biographical antidotes about Dolly Parton.  With rapt attention, he turned from page to page, looking at photo after photo.  Suddenly he shouted to his older brother who was down the aisle a ways, “Hey, Tobin!  Come look at this book!  It’s a book that’s all about wigs!”

He had a point, you know?  In the eyes of a child!

This Christmas season, it has been such a wonder and joy to take in all things Christmas from the perspective of our grandchildren.  We’ve had the opportunity to hear the Christmas story as we’ve watched Children’s Christmas programs.  We’ve heard squeals of joy and happy chatter as we’ve driven by light displays.  We’ve rearranged our Christmas displays time and time-again after our grandchildren have explored our decorated home.  And we’ve experienced uninhibited joy as we’ve put up out Christmas yard decorations with the assistance of our grandchildren.  Christmas takes on a whole new meaning when viewed in the eyes of a child!

That got me to thinking; what does Christmas look like in the eyes of the Christ Child?  How did He feel when His mother, Mary, swaddled Him for the first time and took Him into her arms?  Did He recognize His earthly father’s voice when Joseph cooed at Him?  Was He aware that the angels sang about Him?  What excitement must He have experienced when the shepherds sought Him and the magi worshipped Him?  I wonder if He smiled in His mother’s womb when John leapt in his?  What moved this Child – the very Son of God – to give the greatest present ever given . . . His presence?   What did the first Christmas look like in the eyes of the Christ Child?  And what does this Christmas look like to Him?

Oh, the wonder of it all!

• What is one of your favorite childhood Christmas memories?

• What keeps you from experiencing a childlike joy and excitement at Christmas time?

• What can you do to make time to spend with the Christ Child?

“ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”                                                                                            Luke 2:4-7

In Him, Pastor Tim