A Picture In A Book

I used to read to my children all the time.
Reading to them is a precious memory.
We went to the library every other week.
They would carry their little satchels filled with their book selections.

We read throughout the day when they were young.
There was a large book basket in the family room with books from our own collection.
There was another basket for the younger one’s library books so they would not get lost.
The older ones kept their library books in their room.

Our home had a culture of reading.
We could talk about books that we read together.
I listened to my children talk about books they read on their own.
Often, one of them was my reading buddy as I cooked dinner.

It is so wonderful to see my granddaughters‘ love for books.
It warms my heart to see their parents read to them.
Books are something they choose to do in their play.
I like to watch them read the books themselves; I read it, they say.

My daughter and son-in-love invited us to dinner.
I enjoy being in my granddaughter’s house.
I can see her toys, her books, and her stuffed animals in their own setting.
She loves to show me.

She literally squealed when we came to the door.
She was holding small sorting toys in a cup that she held proudly in her hand.
Almost two years old, her vocabulary has exploded, which is so wonderful to hear.
She was so delighted that we were at her house.

We ate dinner and went into the family room.
She chose a book for me to read to her.
She climbed up on my lap.
I remember her mommy sitting just like that not too long ago.

Since my daughter was a second grade teacher, she has quite a library for her own daughter.
My daughter will rotate books, according to holidays, and put them in the book basket.
Since it is March, there were quite a lot of St. Patrick’s Day books.
My granddaughter picked a few for me to read to her.

Like her mommy, she can finish sentences, if I pause at the end of a line.
Like her mommy, she can point to things on the page when I ask her to find them.
Sometimes, she shows me things that I might have missed.
When we are finished the book, I always hear the same word: Again!

My daughter and son-in-love are teaching their daughter about Jesus.
They are intentionally hiding God’s Word in her little heart.
To hear her finish a verse in a child’s book of Psalms, melts my heart.
To watch her pray, as her daddy prays before we eat, is so tender.

It was her reaction to one book in particular that amazed me.
In this children’s book, there was a picture of Jesus.
The picture was of the resurrected Lord Jesus.
Jesus was wearing a long tunic; His feet were bare.

I watched my granddaughter point to Jesus’ hands.
The nail marks were clearly visible.
I watched my granddaughter point to Jesus’ feet.
They, too, had nail marks.

Boo-boo, my granddaughter said pointing.
She bent down and kissed Jesus’ hands and feet.
She wanted to make Him feel better.
Happy now! She exclaimed.

I looked at my daughter.
She does this all the time, my daughter told me.
She kisses Jesus’ boo-boos to make them all better.
I thought of her exclamation: Happy now!

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”  Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29)

Thomas doubted.
He wanted proof and until he had that proof, he would not believe.
Jesus came into the locked room and stood before Thomas and the disciples.
Jesus invited Thomas to put his finger in the mail marks and place his hands into Jesus’ side.

Seeing the scars that the Lord Jesus had on His resurrected body was enough.
Thomas did not need to put his hand in Jesus’ side.
Thomas immediately worshiped Jesus.
My Lord and my God, was his declaration of praise.

Being almost two years old, my granddaughter’s faith is very young, as it should be.
Despite her youth, she still saw Jesus’ scars and wanted to make Him all better.
She kissed His boo-boos and declared that He was, Happy now!
Childlike faith indeed.

I am certain that God is pleased when His children (no matter what age) show love to Him.
Someday, my sweet granddaughter will know why Jesus has those scars.
When we have perfect, glorified bodies in Heaven, Jesus will still bear His wounds.
They are wounds He incurred for us on the cross so we can be saved.

I watched my granddaughter kiss Jesus’ boo-boos and make them all better.
Happy now!
Yes, Jesus is happy now whenever someone comes to Him in faith.
The faith of a child is what He desires.

2 responses to “A Picture In A Book”

1. So sweet! She is being taught well!

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   • Yes, she is, Sue, which brings joy to my heart.
     Gina

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