The Best Thing

The mother walked back towards the bathroom with her little boy.
This seemed to be a prerequisite before eating his lunch.
I don’t have to go, he said.

I looked at him in his little rain slicker and boots.
Iron Man…Spiderman…some sort of superhero prominently displayed.
He walked by too fast to be sure.

It was obviously a special lunch between mother and son.
He was probably in preschool and this was their time together.

I looked across the table from me and saw a grown up version of the same scene.
Except my special time was with my twenty-one year old son.
It wasn’t that long ago when he was in preschool with boots and Power Rangers.

The little boy came out of the bathroom holding his mom’s hand.
You are such a good boy…see how important it is to wash your hands and use…
Their conversation trailed off as they walked away.

Moments.
Daily…Routine…Irreplaceable.

I looked across the table at my son…6 ft. 2 in…beard…going to be a senior in college.
A man…who was once a little boy.

I wonder if the little boy’s mom knows how fast the years go by?

I have always loved the Christy series…and the character of Miss Alice.
Miss Alice’s father told her about the best gift he could ever give her.
The best gift I can give you is a good childhood tucked under your belt.
That has always stayed with me.

A good childhood tucked under your belt.

My son smiled as the little boy went past our table.
I doubt he smiled for the same reasons I was smiling.

I look in my son’s eyes and see the infant, the toddler, the preschooler, the kindergartener, the elementary student, the middle school-er, the high school-er, the college man.

I look in those eyes and see the boy who never had a music lesson, yet just came back from Nashville after a semester of writing and recording music.

I look in those eyes and see the man God has been forming through all these years.

I look in those eyes and see a man of God.

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about Him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
…And the child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him…and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
(Luke 2:33-35, 40, 52)

Imagine what Mary saw as she watched Jesus grow.
Think of the job that was given to her and to her husband, Joseph.
Their job was to make sure Jesus had a good childhood tucked under His belt.

Jesus, fully God and fully man…just like us…but without sin.
All the phases we go through, Jesus went through as well.
He had conversations with His mother as He held her hand.

Jesus?
Yes…Jesus.
A man like us in all things…but sin.

Samuel was a prophet of the Lord.
His barren mother prayed for a child and God gave Samuel to her and her husband.
She dedicated her son to the Lord.
She promised that she would give him over to the Lord in service.
Samuel lived in the temple and was raised by Eli, the priest in charge of the tabernacle.

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions…The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
…Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord.
The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
…Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
(1 Samuel 3:1,3-5,7,8,10)

Here I am…You called me.
Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.

Teaching our children about the Lord…through His Word.
How else will they learn to listen?
How else will they recognize His voice?
How else will they hear His call?

And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.
(1 Samuel 2:26)

Sound familiar?

The best thing I can give you is a good childhood tucked under your belt.
The best thing I can teach you is to know the Lord…and His Word.
The best thing.