MY EDEN CLIMBING ROSE
(Borrowed this story from Sweet Tea & Jesus, a shorter version of Amazing Grace)
Last week, while spending time with my three granddaughters, they noticed a
picture of Jesus in my kitchen. They loved the picture, asking me if I could find a picture of
Jesus holding a baby lamb. I wanted to make our day a special time for us, so we went
shopping.
We had lunch downtown at the Tea Room, shopping, and finally a walk by the river. I
remember the wind blowing, wrapping me in a blanket of sunshine.
It was a Huckleberry Finn kind of day. Hot, sunny, and breezy. Old turtles were lying on old
logs sunning. I couldn’t remember a more beautiful day for a walk by the river.
The only remaining thing we needed was an ice cream cone.
When you have three little girls, close in age, it makes for an interesting time shopping.
Believe you me, my oldest was quick to remind me.
Pink is always in style, Lee,” to which I replied, “Well, of course it is.”
We discussed seeing a little girl misbehaving at lunch with her mother. My girls quietly leaned over commenting, “Lee, she doesn’t know her manners.” I almost fell out of my chair. Great job, sweet daughter.
One more stop. Ice cream.
As we started home, with ice cream cones in hand, the girls wanted to sing a little song I sang to them since they were babies. Here are the words:
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU,
I LOVE YOU EVERYDAY,
I LOVE YOU IN THE MORNING,
AND THIS IS WHAT I PRAY,
I PRAY FOR GOD’S PROTECTION,
TO BE WITH YOU EACH DAY, HE’LL WALK WITH YOU, AND TALK
WITH YOU, AND NEVER GO AWAY!
Somehow, over the years, it stuck.
While driving these sweet petunias home, Elvis, singing Amazing Grace, was playing on the radio. I turned the volume up high. We began singing as loud as we could. If you are a true southern lady, you have to love Elvis.
When the song was over, my sweet four-year old at the time, leaned forward and said, “Lee, I know about Jesus too.” Her sisters looked at me with little grins. “Why sweetheart, please tell us,“ I said. And she did.
“You know what, Lee, did you know the people were mean to Jesus?” She continued.
“They said bad things to Him, Lee,and then, in this tiny, little voice, she said, “they beat Jesus til He died, Lee!” She continued, “But you know what, Lee?” “No, precious, tell Lee.”
By now, I was holding back tears. I had my sunglasses on and when I looked in the rear view mirror, her sisters were teary-eyed too. They couldn't believe it. I was still hanging on to her every word.
”In three days, He was alive again, Lee,” “The rock was rolled away, and He was gone!” “His mommy came to see Him, but He was gone, Lee!”
‘Jesus was alive again, and the sun shined bright!” She didn’t stop there.
”Lee, why were they so mean to Jesus?” She asked. “Jesus was alive again, and He forgave the mean people who hurt and killed Him!” “He loves us, Lee, and He is always with us! Now, He’s in Heaven with His Daddy!” Here came the sobbing part. “Can we go see Jesus, and your mommy, Lee?” ”I love your mommy’s middle name is Lee, too!” ”I want to meet her.” I told her someday we would. We were all shocked. Thank goodness for recorders on phones.
I asked her how she remembered these things. She said she was taught at church and with mommy and daddy, and Lee.
I was so glad I had taken the whole day off, and spent it with my girls. This beautiful story would not have been written had I not been with them that day.
I cannot begin to translate the passion and emotion she was expressing about Christ. But it was real. I don’t think anyone could. I have more writing material from this little magnolia I will be sharing. I never know what she will be teaching me when I see her. Not shy, not shy at all. She’s seven now. Gosh, I love her. That day she blessed all of us.
“WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE TO BE SO MEAN, LEE?” That question from my sweet baby girl will be embedded in my heart the rest of my life.
I truly cannot answer that question, sweet one but God knows.
If a precious, four-year old child can share the gospel with me about our Jesus,
why can’t we? She was so passionate, and sincere. Her little mind was just
turning, I could hear the pain. God must’ve been smiling. I know He was. Her sisters and
I will never forget that day. She presented the gospel of Jesus right there in the car with us, going home.
Pretty amazing, wouldn’t you say? Out of the mouth of babes. She’s becoming a lovely young lady, along with her sisters. They bless my soul.
An eye to see, and an ear to hear. You will find Jesus, in His Holy Word, or you might be sitting next to a child someday in an ice cream parlor and hear about Him firsthand.
Matthew 13:9-16.
Be kind, loving and most of all forgiving. In His words, Jesus says we must forgive others, in order for Him to forgive us. The cross is our reminder. He is our example.
Happy Easter everyone, enjoy your families, Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!
And so has all of mother-nature’s beauty. Daffodils are beautiful this year. Enjoy!
Blessings everyone, Hazel Lee
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